Trade unions and employers’ organisations representing the hospitals and health care sector have come together to sign a joint commitment aimed at better supporting healthcare workers and advocating for increased EU investments in healthcare.
The joint policy statement highlights the urgent need for investments in healthcare to strengthen its resilience against future crises. Social partners see healthcare funding not as a cost, but as a long-term investment that benefits the economy and society as a whole. Key priorities include addressing staff shortages, promoting diversity, and improving working conditions, building on the updated Framework of Action on Recruitment and Retention.
Social Partners also encourage the continuation of EU4Health funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework to secure long-term, sustainable improvements in healthcare.
Promoting Social Dialogue and collective bargaining is a central element of the agreement. The document stresses the crucial role social partners play in shaping healthcare policy, particularly during crises. It also outlines ways to strengthen social dialogue and emphasizes the importance of active engagement in EU policy processes, such as the European Semester.
The social partners pledge to implement the policy’s objectives and regularly review their progress. They commit to ongoing collaboration with EU institutions and agencies to keep hospital and health issues high on the policy agenda and to better prepare the sector for future health crises.
Background
The signatory parties are, on the side of trade unions, European Public Service Union (EPSU), and on the side of employers’ European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association (HOSPEEM). The joint policy aligns with the multiannual work programme of the Hospitals EU Sector Social Dialogue Committee.
In addition, the hospitals sector social partners signed the multi sector Guidelines to prevent and tackle violence and harassment at work.
The joint initiative supports several key Commission initiatives, notably
- the recently adopted Pact for Social Dialogue,
- the Union of Skills,
- the EU Preparedness strategy and for the Quality Jobs Roadmap, for which consultation with social partners is ongoing.
Decisions from EU sector social dialogue fall within the autonomy of social partners, with the European Commission actively supporting their work. The Commission also co-funds the ongoing social partner led-project on “Tackling Staff Shortages and Ensuring Future-Proofing Skills in Health”.
