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Third Workshop of the Joint Project “Tackling Staff Shortages and Ensuring Future-proofing Skills in Health”
HOSPEEM and EPSU invites you to the third in-person workshop of the joint project on the topic of Digitalisation and Future-proofing Skills in Health in Rome, Italy.
The workshop will focus on how digitalisation and AI can soften the impact of labour shortage in the sector and support healthcare workforce in doing their job while ensuring the protection of workers and patients. In addition, the workshop will include an exchange of best practices on future-proofing skills and career pathways for the healthcare workforce as a crucial component to navigate in evolving landscape of the sector, improve patient-centred care and create a pool of well-trained and motivated healthcare workforce.
5 – 6 March 2026 (1,5 days)
U.I.L. – Unione Italiana del Lavoro, Via Lucullo, 7, 00187, Rome, Italy
The reimbursement for the flight and accommodation is available for the EU participants:
- Please follow this link to calculate eligible travel costs
- Maximum reimbursement for accommodation – 114 EUR/night (for up to 2 nights)
The interpretation will be provided for English, Italian and 3 languages to be determined by the number of requests
Please register here
The registration deadline is 4 February 2026
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact o.horlach@hospeem.eu
Second Workshop on the Temporary Work Agency of the Joint HOSPEEM-EPSU TaSSEFSH Project
On 3–4 December, HOSPEEM and EPSU held the second workshop of their joint project, Tackling Staff Shortages and Ensuring Future-Proof Skills in Health, in Hilversum, the Netherlands. With strong support from the Nederlandse Vereniging van Ziekenhuizen (NVZ) and the Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV), representatives of employers and trade unions from across Europe met to exchange best practices on the involvement of temporary work agencies in the healthcare sector and on flexible working patterns in their countries. The workshop took place at Zonnenstraal, a historic former sanatorium in Hilversum.
Johan Siegert (FCB) and Niels Mooij (CAOP) delivered a presentation on the labour market for healthcare and Welfare – “AZW programma”, which was followed by the discussion. Marleen Vos opened the session on good practice presentations with the example from Groene Hart Ziekenhuis (GHZ), Gouda (the Netherlands), in which she explained the FIER programme with the activities of the internal flex agency of GHZ. André Renkema from NVZ delivered the presentation on the Care for the North initiative. Kevin Figgis from SIPTU, Ireland, presented an update on the state of temporary work agencies in the country.
On the second day, the workshop featured presentations on the state of play of the topic in Croatia by Maja Malic (HUP) and in Belgium by Myriam De Bruyn (Zorgnet-Icuro). Questions and comments from the participants followed the session.
This workshop was the second of five in the series. An external researcher provided a summary of the key findings available in the following report.
HOSPEEM-EPSU Joint Work Programme 2026-2028 for the European Sectoral Social Dialogue in the Hospital Sector
In November 2025, HOSPEEM and EPSU adopted the Joint Work Programme 2026–2028 addressing labour and skills shortages, preparedness, digitalisation, occupational safety and health, continuous professional development, and lifelong learning priorities jointly.
Second Workshop of the Joint Project “Tackling Staff Shortages and Ensuring Future-proofing Skills in Health”
HOSPEEM and EPSU invites you to the second in-person workshop of the joint project on the topic of Temporary Work Agency in the Netherlands
3 – 4 December 2025
Campus Zonnestraal, Loosdrechtse Bos 7B, Hilversum, the Netherlands
The reimbursement for the flight and accommodation is available for the EU participants:
- Please follow this link to calculate eligible travel costs
- Maximum reimbursement for accommodation – 133 EUR/night (for up to 2 nights)
The interpretation will be provided for English, French, German, Italian and Dutch
Please register here
The registration deadline is 7 November 2025
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact o.horlach@hospeem.eu
First Workshop on Mental Health and Work-Life Balance of TaSSEFSH Project took place in Copenhagen
On 25–26 September, HOSPEEM and EPSU held the first workshop of their joint project, Tackling Staff Shortages and Ensuring Future-Proof Skills in Health, in Copenhagen. With strong support from Danske Regioner and Dansk Sygeplejeråd, they brought together representatives of employers and trade unions to exchange good practices on mental health and work–life balance.
The session was opened by representatives from the European Commission and WHO Europe. EU-OSHA also delivered a presentation to frame the discussion.
Anne Grethe Larsen, Director of Næstved, Slagelse and Ringsted Hospitals, presented a project on flexible working hours, which aims to create a sustainable working environment by introducing greater flexibility in work scheduling.
On the second day, the workshop featured a presentation of good practices on mental health from KT, the Finnish employers’ organisation.
This was followed by a presentation on the initiative “Kobling” – aimed at improving the psychological work environment and recognised with the Occupational Health and Safety Award in 2022 – by Sofie Jaspers, a researcher at the National Research Centre for the Working Environment. Afterwards, Daniel Rausner, Director of the Department of HR and Education in Region Hovedstaden, gave a presentation on onboarding practices.
This workshop was the first of five in the series. A summary of the findings are provided in the workshop report.
EPSU and HOSPEEM sign Joint Policy Orientation to build a resilient European hospital and health sector
Brussels, 13 June 2025 – The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the European Hospital & Healthcare Employers’ Association (HOSPEEM) today sign their Joint Policy Orientation on Creating a Resilient Hospital and Health Sector after the COVID-19 Pandemic. A negotiated process-oriented text that sets common priorities for unions and employers and guides EU decision-makers on future legislation and funding.
Investment, people, and preparedness In the Joint Policy Orientation, the social partners for the hospital sector call for sustained public investment in hospitals and primary care, stressing that “healthcare funding is seen as a long term, ongoing investment rather than an expenditure”. The orientation encourages the Member States to prolong EU4Health in the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework. The Social Partners commit to work together with the support of governments to develop measures to reduce staff shortages, and refer to a wide range of actions to make the total reward package more attractive to workers including but not limiting to wages, work life balance or continuous professional development in line with their updated Framework of Action on Recruitment and Retention. The Social Partners emphasise the importance of diversity and gender equality in the healthcare workforce.
Stronger social dialogue and collective bargaining EPSU and HOSPEEM underline that stronger collective bargaining and early involvement of social partners in EU processes such as the European Semester are essential, especially during crises.
From words to follow-up Both organisations commit to follow-up every three years and to work closely with the European Commission, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) so that resilience remains a policy priority and lessons from COVID-19 are hard-wired into preparedness plans.
Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU General Secretary, said: “Our health systems cannot afford another round of austerity. The pandemic taught us that public investment fundamental to the resilience of our societies and economies. This joint policy orientation is a clear message from both workers and employers: investing in healthcare is key to Europe’s preparedness and social partners must be at the table shaping that future.”
Marta Branca, HOSPEEM Secretary General states: “Especially now that the EU places preparedness high on the agenda, it is important to recognise: funding healthcare is not a cost, but a long-term investment in our economy and society. Through the Joint Policy Orientation, we as Social partners are committing to a shared vision to help ensure that hospitals remain safe, adaptive, and sustainable workplaces capable of delivering high-quality care in any circumstance.”
The signing underscores the value of sectoral social dialogue contributing in delivering the European Pillar of Social Rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Joint Policy Orientation can be found here.
For more information please contact:
Chloe Kenny ckenny@epsu.org EPSU
Leonie Martin l.martin@hospeem.eu HOSPEEM
The European Commission has also published a press release on the occasion.
HOSPEEM and EPSU participate in the European Social Dialogue as the recognised European Social Partners in the Hospital and Healthcare Sector since 2006. A range of joint documents (declarations, code of conduct, framework of actions, framework agreements) have been adopted and multiple projects and activities have been successfully completed ever since.
European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association https://hospeem.org/
European Federation of Public Service Unions www.epsu.org
Final conference of the Finance4EPSR project
The Finance4EPSR project was concluded with its final conference.
As a project partner, HOSPEEM actively contributed to the successful implementation and conclusion of the project, led by SGI Europe. The project aimed to strengthen the social dimension of sustainable finance and enhance the capacity of services of general interest (SGIs) to access socially responsible investment.
Throughout the project, HOSPEEM supported the development of a practical methodology for non-financial reporting on social objectives, helping SGI providers better identify and communicate their social impact. This work also contributed to improving understanding of the potential application of a social taxonomy in essential sectors such as healthcare.
The final conference on 11 June 2025 marked an important milestone, presenting key results and tools designed to support SGIs in attracting sustainable finance. It also provided a platform for dialogue among EU institutions, social partners, and financial actors on future policy developments.
First Workshop of the Joint Project “Tackling Staff Shortages and Ensuring Future-proofing Skills in Health”
HOSPEEM and EPSU invites you to the first in-person workshop of the joint project on the topic of Mental Health and Work-Life Balance in Copenhagen, Denmark
25 – 26 September 2025
Scandic Copenhagen, Vester Søgade 6, 1602 Copenhagen, Denmark
The reimbursement for the flight and accommodation is available for the EU participants:
- Please follow this link to calculate eligible travel costs
- Maximum reimbursement for accommodation – 158 EUR/night (for up to 2 nights)
The interpretation will be provided for English, French, German, Spanish and Danish
Please register here
The registration deadline is 24 August 2025
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact o.horlach@hospeem.eu
Press Release: “Violence is not part of the job!”
Five sectoral social dialogue committees adopt revised guidelines to prevent and tackle third party violence and harassment (TPVH) at the workplace
Brussels 6 May 2025
The European sectoral social partners for Local and Regional Governments, Hospitals and healthcare, Education, Hotels, restaurants and cafés (Hospitality), and Central Governments adopted the updated European Multi-sectoral Guidelines to Prevent and Tackle Third-Party Violence and Harassment Related to Work. This follows a six-month round of negotiations last year with the financial support of the European Commission.
This significant achievement demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the involved social partners to ensuring safe, inclusive, and respectful workplaces across Europe and providing evidence-based guidance to their members including health and safety representatives at work.
The revised Guidelines draw upon ILO Violence and Harassment Convention (No.190), existing policies, and collective agreements at national level to address pressing challenges in light of increased episodes of third-party violence and harassment at work following the COVID-19 pandemic and a changing world of work.
They offer to the trade unions and employers:
· Key elements for a TPVH policy devised by management and workers’ representatives and trade unions, anchored in social dialogue, occupational safety and health, gender equality and non-discrimination with an intersectional approach.
· Practical tools and measures for health risk assessments – for example psychosocial risks and staffing levels-, prevention, and responses, such as social dialogue, awareness raising, training and clear reporting and complaint procedures.
· Definitions and principles on fostering a culture of respect and zero tolerance to violence and harassment including by learning from previous incidents and cooperating with relevant public authorities.
· Remedies to support victims and hold perpetrators accountable, including support and transparent investigations.
· A joint TPVH website with practical examples of policies and collective agreements
Following the adoption, the signatories will disseminate and promote the implementation of the guidelines among their members at the national level including in future collective agreements.
On behalf of the employers’ delegation:
“By concluding these updated guidelines, employers reaffirm their commitment to fostering workplaces where safety and respect are at the core, ensuring that both workers and the services delivered to citizens are protected”, said Fabrizio Rossi, CEMR Secretary General.
On behalf of the trade unions’ delegation:
“Workers should never fear going to work. Violence, including gender-based violence, should never be normalised and deemed part of any job. By underlining that every workplace should have a TPVH policy and, importantly, be sufficiently staffed and resourced to do the job, the Guidelines will contribute to eradicating what has become a major safety and health risk”, said Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU General Secretary.
In her speech, Marta Branca, HOSPEEM Secretary General says:
“Updating the guidelines on preventing third-party violence and harassment, reflecting how technology has progressed since the first guidelines as well as introducing a gender-responsive approach, is an important moment for us as social partners in the hospital and healthcare sector. It reflects our shared commitment with trade unions to create safe and supportive working environments .”
For more information, please contact:
CEMR: hamza.bennis@ccre-cemr.org
EPSU: nsalson@epsu.org
HOSPEEM: l.martin@hospeem.eu
CESI: migliori@cesi.org
HOTREC: marta.machado@hotrec.eu
ETUCE: martina.diridolfo@csee-etuce.org
EFEE: monika.hoangthe@educationemployers.eu
EFFAT: v.demoucron@effat.org
EUPAE: carlos.moreno@digital.gob.es
The updated guidelines can be found here (EN)
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