The European Federation of Family Employment and Home Care (EFFE) and the European Federation for Services to Individuals (EFSI) are proud to announce the launch of their PHS Employer’s Capacity Building Toolkit, developed within the framework of the EU-funded PHSDialogue Project. This strategic resource is designed to support Sectoral Employer Organisations (SEOs) and Business Member Organisations (BMOs) in the Personal and Household Services (PHS) sector across Europe by strengthening their capacity, representation, and long-term sustainability.

Supporting a Sector that Supports our Family and Home 

The PHS sector provides a wide range of essential services that support households and communities. These services include both direct care activities, such as childcare, elderly care, and care for people with disabilities, and indirect services like cleaning, cooking, gardening, and home repairs. According to data collected by EFFE and EFSI, the majority of PHS activities are caring for the elderly, caring for people with disabilities, childcare, cleaning, and ironing. However, services are often provided in informal or complex employment arrangements. 

PHS may be delivered by direct employment (user-employers hiring workers), indirect employment (via service providers), or alternative models including self-employment, temporary work, or platform-based arrangements. Despite these differences, all employers in the sector face similar challenges, particularly due to the private household being the main workplace, which creates unique complexities in employment regulation, quality assurance, and social dialogue. 

The Need for Stronger Employer Organisations 

The PHSDialogue Project lays the foundation for an EU Sectoral Social Dialogue in PHS sector and aims to boost the collective bargaining and institutional capacity of employer organisations and trade unions. Work Package 4 of the project specifically focuses on identifying effective strategies to reinforce employer capacity at both the national and EU levels. 

In this context, EFFE and EFSI have developed the PHS Employer’s Capacity Building Toolkit, drawing directly on the experience and needs of their members. The toolkit is a practical guide to help Sectoral Employer’s Organisations (SEOs), and Business Member’s Organisations (BMOs) navigate the evolving policy landscape and labour market, actively participate in social dialogue, and ensure efficient and equitable employment relationships in the sector. 

Toolkit Overview: Practical Guidance for Real Impact 

The toolkit is structured into four key sections: 

• Section 1: Understanding Capacity Building: Defines the concept of capacity building and underscores its critical role in ensuring the sustainability, effectiveness, and resilience of employers’ organisations. 
• Section 2: Social Dialogue as a Strategic Priority: Explores how employer organisations can engage more effectively with workers’ representatives, institutions, and other stakeholders, and highlights social dialogue as a cornerstone of advocacy and policy influence. 
• Section 3: Identifying Capacity Gaps: Maps out common and sector-specific gaps in employer capacity, particularly the challenges related to fragmented representation, resource constraints, and underdeveloped structures. 
• Section 4: Practical Tools and Approaches: Offers actionable recommendations and resources to help organisations improve their governance, advocacy, communication, service delivery, and membership development. 

The toolkit also presents examples of good practices from across Europe, showing that tailored strategies can lead to meaningful, sustainable outcomes even in highly diverse national settings. 

Empowering a Sustainable, Professional PHS Sector 

The goal of the toolkit is not only to strengthen organisations but to foster the development of professional PHS sector as a whole. Whether a long-established SEO or an emerging BMO, organisations will find in the toolkit a valuable resource to: 

• Recognise the vital role of employer organisations in shaping the PHS sector. 
• Identify and prioritise their capacity-building needs. 
• Improve organisational strategy and operations. 
• Contribute meaningfully to social dialogue and collective bargaining. 
• Influence policymaking processes at both the national and EU levels.

A Step Forward for PHS Employers Across Europe 

By reinforcing the capacity of employer organisations, the PHS Employer’s Capacity Building Toolkit contributes to a more inclusive, resilient, and recognised PHS sector. It aligns with the broader ambition of EFFE and EFSI to professionalise the sector, ensure decent working conditions, and deliver high-quality services to Europe’s households. 

We invite all social partners, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore the toolkit and join us in strengthening the foundation for a sustainable PHS sector. 

The PHS Employer’s Capacity Building Toolkit can be found on our website. The toolkit is currently available in English; additional languages will soon be added.