Regional Workshop 1: Eastern Europe

The first Regional Workshop of the HOSPEEMEPSU joint project “Strengthening Social Dialogue in the Hospital Sector in the East, South and Central Europe”, took place on 14 June 2019 in Bucharest, Romania. The workshop was organised by Sanitas (EPSU affiliate, Romania) and co-organised by EPSU.#EUSocDia

The geographical focus of this first workshop was on Eastern Europe, specifically targeted at Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania. The event gathered around 30 participants, EPSU and HOSPEEM members as well as representatives from trade unions and employers from the four targeted countries and from beyond as well as academia. HOSPEEM and EPSU members from other EU member states were invited to participate to share their experiences.

Media release, agenda and video

 Agenda 
Media release
Video address by Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility (DG EMPL)

Presentations (As of 25th June 2019):

HOSPEEM-EPSU Joint project on strengthening social dialogue in the hospital sector, Simone Mohrs (European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association-HOSPEEM)
Introduction to the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector, Mathias Maucher (European Federation of Public Service Union-EPSU)
Discussion of draft fact sheets of Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland and priorities of participants, Marta Kahancová and Barbora Holubová (Central European Labour Studies Institute-CELSI)
The European Semester process, Mathias Maucher (European Federation of Public Service Union-EPSU)
Swedish good practice on the European Semester, Sandra Bergendorff (Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions-SALAR)
Discussion and exchange on challenges faced by social partners in the region (contributions from Sanitas in Romania, HOSPEEM,  FTU-HS in Bulgaria with Slava Zlatanova’s presentation in EN and BG)

Report and fact sheets

 Fact sheet Bulgaria EN BG
 Fact sheet Hungary EN HU
 Fact sheet Poland EN PL
 Fact sheet Romania EN RO
 Regional workshop report – Eastern Europe

Photos and graphics

Photo gallery
Graphics: View Gallery or download in PDF or JPEG

General

Workshop 2: Southern Europe, Rome, Italy (15.11.2019)
Workshop 3: Central Europe, Zagreb, Croatia (20.04.2021)

Strengthening Social Dialogue project description (2019-2021)
European Sectoral Social Dialogue activities overview (2006-2019)

EPSU has also published an article on this topic.

***Back to main project page***

This project has received financial support from the European Union

Kick-off meeting of the HOSPEEM-EPSU Project 2019-2020 on strengthening social dialogue in the hospital sector

On 28 March 2019, HOSPEEM, EPSU and the project partners, Sanitas (EPSU affiliate, Romania), ARAN (HOSPEEM member, Italy) and HSSMS-MT (EPSU affiliate, Croatia) hosted the kick-off meeting of their new joint project in the field of sectoral social dialogue capacity building: “Strengthening social dialogue in the hospital sector in the East, South and Central Europe”.

The meeting was the occasion to discuss the capacity building needs of sectoral social partners in the hospital sector in the three targeted regions as well their involvement in the European agenda, including the European Semester.

The need to strengthen representativeness of the sectoral social partners’ activities also by sharing best practices, ensuring a bottom up approach and the need to foster the capacities of social partner organisations for social dialogue to be successful were among the topics discussed.

The importance of guaranteeing the link between the sectoral social partners’ national priorities and the European Semester process was raised by the participants.  It was highlighted how social partners should be supported in creating and ensuring a social dialogue infrastructure, an enabling political and social environment where they can identify their priorities and bring them to the EU level.

The event gathered around 20 participants, governments’ representatives from the Permanent Missions to the EU, and DG EMPL representatives from the Social Dialogue Unit and from the Unit on Employment and social aspects of the European Semester.

The agenda of the meeting, the presentation of the project and the overview of the main HOSPEEM and EPSU joint activities in the European Sectoral Social Dialogue are now available.

EPSU has also published an event page for this meeting.

***Back to main project page***

This project has received financial support from the European Union

The year 2018 at a glance: HOSPEEM Activity report

The HOSPEEM Activity Report 2018 is published. This activity report presents basic information on HOSPEEM and the main activities carried out during the year.

2018 has been a year rich in achievements for HOSPEEM ensuring that the views of hospital and healthcare employers are being heard at the highest level.

Firstly, HOSPEEM and EPSU celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Code of conduct on Ethical Cross-Border Recruitment and Retention in April 2018.

Secondly, the conference “A sound mind in a sound body- Taking care of those who take care of us” has been organised in Vilnius on musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks and stress at work in May 2018.

Thirdly, a dissemination workshop on Occupational Safety and Health and Continuing Professionnal Development took place in the European Parliament in Brussel, hosted by two MEPs in December 2018.

PDF - 304.4 koDownload the report

 

CALL FOR TENDER – Subcontracting external expertise

               

Open call for tender for research on strengthening social dialogue in the hospital sector in the East, South and Central Europe

Date of publication on the HOSPEEM and EPSU website: 01 February 2019 
Deadline for submissions: 22 February 2019

Download the Call for Tender

TENDER SPECIFICATIONS FOR SUBCONTRACTING EXTERNAL EXPERTISE

In order to ensure large visibility to this tender, HOSPEEM and EPSU will publish the tender on their websites. This tender will be publicly available for 21 days.

1. Purpose of the contract

Support is being sought from an external team of experts to help to facilitate the implementation of the project run by the EU-level social partners in the hospital/health care sector EPSU and HOSPEEM. The contractors will carry out research, in the form of a survey, to gather information on the priorities of the employers’ organisations and the trade unions and how they could be better articulated in future activities of HOSPEEM and EPSU. The research will also cover on information on the current involvement of the sectoral social partners in the European Semester with the aim to strengthen their role in this regard. The findings of this research will be presented at the regional capacity building workshops in form of draft factsheets. The subcontracted team of experts will also be responsible for the capacity building with social partner organisations in the respective countries and will assist in the organisation of the regional workshops in Bucharest, Rome and Zagreb. HOSPEEM and EPSU also expect the contractors to assist with the coordination of the project to ensure good outcomes.

2. Tasks to be performed by the subcontracted team of experts

  • Participating in the project partners’ kick-off meeting, the three regional workshops, the synthesis meeting and dissemination workshop;
  • Liaising with the project partners in exploring and finding direct or indirect potential contacts from relevant employers’ organisations and/or trade unions in targeted countries where HOSPEEM and/or EPSU are not yet represented;
  • Contacting representatives from national social partner organisations in the hospital/healthcare sector and providing information on the project in collaboration with the respective project partners (when approaching employers’ organisations, HOSPEEM will be the reference point, for trade unions, EPSU respectively);
  • Drafting the survey addressed to national social partner organisations in the hospital/healthcare sector in the targeted countries after liaising with the project partners.
  • Collecting and organising responses to the survey;
  • Drafting the content of the 14 country fact sheets based on three main outcomes: 1) responses collected via the survey, 2) information provided by participants and speakers during the regional workshops and 3) desk research;
  • Presenting draft fact sheets at the regional workshops;
  • Finalising of fact sheets in cooperation with HOSPEEM and EPSU;
  • Drafting of 3 reports on the regional workshops;
  • Presenting the final fact sheets and moderating the respective regional sessions during the dissemination workshop;
  • Writing the final project report

The final fact sheets should build on desk research as well as the surveys of the member organisation and other contacts of HOSPEEM and EPSU.

In order to perform the tasks listed above, the subcontracted team of experts will be asked to work for a total of 40 days.

3. Selection criteria

The offers received to the call for tender will be examined by the HOSPEEM EPSU and Secretariats – which can decide to also consult with representatives of EPSU affiliates and HOSPEEM members, where appropriate – on the basis of the following criteria:

  • At least 3 years of experience in the field of labour market and industrial relation, with a focus on national and European social dialogue;
  • Significant knowledge of carrying out similar tasks in relevant EU projects;
  • Experience in working with European / national social partners;
  • Good knowledge of European Social Dialogue and of its outcomes on a national level;
  • Proven research skills, including identifying relevant stakeholders and conducting surveys;
  • Proven ability to draft documents in English;
  • Particular expertise in the healthcare sector will be considered as an asset.

Next to contributing effectively to the success of this project, the contractor has to ensure a non-discriminatory work environment, including gender equality within the subcontracted team of experts.

The contract will be awarded according to the various elements contained below:

  • Understanding the nature of the assignments
  • Previous experiences (especially in EU affairs)
  • Presentation of the tender

4. Time schedule and reporting

The project duration is from February 2019 until January 2021. Draft fact sheets must be made available no less than 2 weeks prior to each workshop. The workshop reports should be prepared within one month after the workshop. A final project report taking into account proceedings at the dissemination workshop is required by December 2020.

5. Payment and standard contract and price

The total maximum budget available for the fees of the subcontractor is as follows:

Contract with HOSPEEM

  • Assisting in contacting key stakeholders in the target countries
  • Conducting survey
  • Drafting 14 x 1 paged fact sheets
  • Drafting 3 x 5 paged workshop reports
  • Drafting 1 x 20 paged project report

Price

The total budget for the Expertise is 24 000,00 EUR (all taxes and charges included).

HOSPEEM will sign a contract with the subcontracted team of experts. Payments will be made in three instalments dependent on the contractors carrying out the relevant stages of the work as listed above. A first payment of 20% of contract value on signature of the contract, a further payment of 40% of contract value on completion of the reports from the first two regional capacity building workshop (end of 2019) and a final payment of 40% upon finalisation of the project and delivery of the report from the third regional capacity building workshop and the final project report. The travel and accommodation expenses for the contractor to attend the project conferences or meet with the EPSU and HOSPEEM Secretariats will be covered by the overall travel and accommodation budget of the project and paid separately from the above-mentioned instalments.

6. Selection criteria related to the financial in technical capacity of the bidders

The contract will be awarded to the tenderer who is offering presents the best value for money, taking into account the specific criteria set above. The principles of transparency and equal treatment with a view to avoiding any conflict of interest will be respected.

The offer received will be examined on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Verifiable expertise, experience and skills, as required and described above;
  • Proven knowledge/ evidence/track record of research (supported by publications, academic articles etc.) on sectoral social dialogue, in particular focusing on the hospital sector and of the targeted regions listed above;
  • Respect the budgetary constraints.

7. Content presentation of the tender

Tenders must be written in English. They must be signed by the tenderer or his duly authorised representative and be perfectly legible so that there can be no doubt as to words and figures. Tenders must be clear and concise.

They must make it clear that they are able to meet the requirements of the specifications. All tenders must include at least two sections:

i) Technical proposal

The technical proposal must provide all the information needed for the purpose of awarding the contract, including:

  • Description of relevant professional experience with emphasis on the specific fields covered by the invitation to tender;
    • All information and documents necessary to enable the EPSU and HOSPEEM Secretariats to appraise the bid on the basis of the selection and award criteria set out above; A detailed CV of the expert(s) involved in the project activities;
    • Specific information concerning the proposed methodology for delivering the tasks listed in part 2.

ii) Financial proposal

Prices of the financial proposal must be quoted in euros, including if the sub-contractor is based in a country which is not in the euro-area. As far as the tenderers of those countries are concerned, they cannot change the amount of the bid because of the evolution of the exchange rate. The tenderers choose the exchange rate and assume all risks or opportunities relating to the rate fluctuation.

Prices shall be fixed and not subject to revision during the performance of the contract.

8. Content and selection of the bids

Offers must be received within 21 days of the date of publication of this call for tender by HOSPEEM, i.e. by 22 February 2019. Offers must be sent to HOSPEEM in both formats: electronic (by e-mail to s.mohrs@hospeem.eu and hospeem@hospeem.eu) and as a paper copy (see contact details below).

To ensure confidentiality, bidders must submit their offer in a sealed envelope. If self-adhesive envelopes are used, they must be sealed with adhesive tape crossed by the signature of the sender.

All candidates must either deliver their bid by hand or submit them by registered letter to:

Simone Mohrs
HOSPEEM
Rue des Deux Eglises, 26, bte. 5
1000 Brussels
Belgium
s.mohrs@hospeem.eu

 

EPSU has also published the Call for Tender on their webpage

***Back to main project page***

This project has received funding from the European Commission

Media Release: HOSPEEM-EPSU 2019-2020 Project Strengthening Social Dialogue in the Hospital Sector

               

MEDIA RELEASE

HOSPEEM and EPSU have been provided with financial support from the European Commission for a joint project in the field of sectoral social dialogue capacity building: “Strengthening social dialogue in the hospital sector in the East, South and Central Europe” (01.02.2019 – 31.01.2021)

The project will provide an appropriate framework to address capacity building needs of social partners in the following 14 countries: Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia, by exchanging on and collecting their priorities and challenges that they are facing at national level.

Three Regional Workshops are planned between June 2019 and June 2020 as well as a  dissemination workshop in Brussels by the end of 2020.

A report, containing the outcomes of the workshops and the conclusions drawn during the final dissemination event will be produced, along with other supporting materials (e.g. fact sheets for each targeted country and videos).

In implementing this project HOSPEEM and EPSU wish to promote a “bottom-up” approach in the capacity building process. The information gathered during the project will be fed back into the regular meetings of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector (SSDC HS). Core priorities of the sectoral dialogue between EPSU and HOSPEEM for the targeted regions will be discussed and evaluated, also in view of their use to influence EU-level policy makers.

Download press release

***Back to main project page***

This project has received financial support from the European Union

HOSPEEM-EPSU Project 2019-2021 on Strengthening social dialogue in the hospital sector

               

HOSPEEM and EPSU have been provided with financial support from the European Commission for a joint project in the field of sectoral social dialogue capacity building: “Strengthening social dialogue in the hospital sector in the East, South and Central Europe” in the years 2019 and 2021.

Objectives 

The project will provide an appropriate framework to continue addressing capacity building needs of social partners. The work will serve to help build the capacity of the hospital sector social partners in 14 targeted countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia) by exchanging on and collecting the relevant topics and priorities in view of the EU-level sectoral social dialogue.

It will also be instrumental to discuss and evaluate the core priorities and outcomes of the sectoral dialogue between EPSU and HOSPEEM for the targeted regions, and to assist in feeding into the sectoral social dialogue committee for the hospital/healthcare sector (SSDC HS) the social dialogue interests and important topics in a “bottom-up” process to support the aim of building capacity.

PDF - 304.4 ko Download project description (2019-2021)

Implementation of the action

The project will run over 35 months. This will allow the delivery of a full project cycle including preparatory activities, the implementation of the work plan and the dissemination of results.

The project foresees the organisation of three Regional Workshops, the first in June 2019 in Bucharest (Romania), the second in November 2019 in Rome (Italy) and the third one in April 2021 online (originally planned in Zagreb, Croatia). The preparation and organisation of the first event was supported by Sanitas (EPSU affiliate, Romania), the second by ARAN (HOSPEEM member, Italy) and the third one by HSSMS-MT (EPSU affiliate, Croatia). Furthermore, a dissemination workshop webinar will take place in June 2021 targeted to a wider audience in Brussels (Belgium).

Orientation and guidance will be provided by an  Advisory Committee composed by representatives from the affiliated associations Sanitas, ARAN and HSSMS-MT. The Advisory Committee will have the task – together with a team of expert (CELSI) – to help the Secretariats to prepare, support, monitor and evaluate project-related activities.

PDF - 304.4 ko Download final project summary (2019-2021)

Timeline

Results

The project produced a report from each Regional Workshop to be drafted by the expert and to be agreed upon by the Advisory Committee and the HOSPEEM and EPSU Secretariats:

Regional workshop report – Eastern Europe
Regional Workshop report – Southern Europe
Regional Workshop report – Central Europe

Another deliverable is a final report summarising the main insights, conclusions and recommendations from the three Regional Workshops and the final dissemination workshop:

EN – BG – CZ – EL – ES – HR – HU – IT – PL – PT – RO – SI – SK

14 fact sheets of the targeted countries collecting national social partners’ priorities and challenges trough survey and desk research:

ENBG – CY – CZELESHRHUITPLPTROSISK

The information gathered the outcomes of the workshops’ debates, the contents of the reports on the Regional Workshops will be fed back into the regular meetings of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector (SSDC HS) to be further discussed and assessed, in particular in view of their use to influence EU-level policymaking.

Implementation

Kick-off meeting of the Advisory Committee, 28 March 2019

The kick-off meeting took place in Brussels (organised by HOSPEEM). The morning session of the meeting was attended by external stakeholder such as Permanent Representations to the EU and European Commission, whereby the afternoon session was reserved for the members of the Advisory Committee.

Regional Workshop 1, 14 June 2019

The first workshop took place in Bucharest (co-organised by Sanitas, supported by EPSU).

Regional Workshop 2, Rome, 15 November 2019

The second workshop took place in Rome (co-organised by ARAN, supported by HOSPEEM.

Regional Workshop 3, Online, 20 April 2021

This third workshop originally planned in Zagreb took place online on 20 April 2021 (co-organised by HSSMS-MT, supported by EPSU. ***Due to the exceptional circumstances, this workshop had originally been planned on 15th May 2020 in Zagreb. ***

Dissemination Workshop,Online, 16 June 2021

The last workshop took place online on 16 June 2021 (organised by HOSPEEM).

Documentation

Project partner description

Poster

Call for tender

Press release

European Sectoral Social Dialogue activities overview (2006-2019)

PDF - 304.4 ko Download project description (2019-2021)

PDF - 304.4 ko Download final project summary (2019-2021)

EPSU also has set up a page with the project-related information.

This project has received financial support from the European Union

10-year anniversary of the EPSU-HOSPEEM Code of Conduct on Ethical Cross-Border Recruitment and Retention

MEDIA RELEASE

In their first Working Group meeting of the European Social Dialogue in the Hospital Sector, on 04 April 2018 HOSPEEM and EPSU looked back to the signing of the EPSU-HOSPEEM Code of Conduct on Ethical Cross-Border Recruitment and Retention on 8 April 2008 and renewed their commitment to promote, guarantee and defend decent recruitment and working conditions for migrant workers, from the EU and from outside the EU, in hospitals and healthcare facilities across Europe. 

HOSPEEM and EPSU issued a Joint Media Release on the 10 years anniversary of the Code of Conduct. It represents an important instrument to support the free movement of workers across the European Union while preventing unethical competition between the Member States and employers in terms of cross-country recruitment process, fair and transparent contracting and the induction of migrant workers at the new workplace. This also holds for their equal and non-discriminatory treatment regarding labour law, social protection provisions and the access to training and career progression and the freedom of association.  

The EPSU-HOSPEEM Code of Conduct on Ethical Cross-Border Recruitment and Retention was inspired by social partner-based or/and public policy tools already in use in different European Union Member States. At international level, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 21 May 2010 adopted and set into practice the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. The Global Code, non-binding in nature, addresses a number of similar issues already covered with in the EPSU-HOSPEEM Code of Conduct. 

In the meeting on 4 April 2018, HOSPEEM and EPSU members reiterated their commitment to the 12 key principles of their 2008 Code of Conduct and to the promotion of ethical recruitment and retention practices at European, national, regional and local level in the upcoming years, both in their own work and in the broader context of the European Pillar of Social Rights. 

Tjitte Alkema, Secretary General of HOSPEEM reflected on the impact of the Code of Conduct: “10 years ago, our Code of Conduct was an inspiration for the work of the World Health Organisation. Nowadays, given the migration flows to and within the European Member States, it is still very relevant. 

EPSU General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan welcomed the constructive dialogue there has been with the European employers since the Code of Conduct. “We sought to ensure decent working conditions for all, to prevent the exploitation of migrant workers and to make sure public health systems are not undermined by unfair recruitment practices. Our Code was and is a significant contribution to achieve sustainable quality care for all.”  

At the meeting on 4 April 2018, several HOSPEEM members and EPSU affiliates commented on the use and positive effects of the EPSU-HOSPEEM Code of Conduct on Ethical Cross-Border Recruitment and Retention. They also referred to different models of how the 12 principles of the Code of Conduct have been incorporated in their national contexts, either into legislation, by means of collective agreements and/or by using enterprise-based agreements. 

Kate Ling, NHS Confederation, United Kingdom, gave an overview on the use by the employers in the NHS and about the effects of the Code of Conduct in the United Kingdom, showcasing some good practice examples: “NHS organisations should only use recruitment agencies that comply with the Code, which includes guarantees to give overseas recruits good induction, training and employment protection. A key tenet of the UK Code is that recruitment of staff from abroad should not damage healthcare systems in developing countries.  Active recruitment from developing countries shouldn’t take place unless there is a government-to-government agreement. For example, the UK and India have a scheme called Earn Learn and Return where staff from India can come to the UK to fill shortages in specialist areas, and in return they get the opportunity to gain specialist expertise and develop skills that they can then take back with them after they leave the UK to improve healthcare in India. So, both countries benefit.” 

Tjitte Alkema wrapped up the Working Group meeting, reflecting on the freedom of movement of persons in the European Union and the respective aim of the Code of Conduct: “We are in the European Union: one of the fundamental rights is the freedom of movement of people within the European Union. Our Code of Conduct is trying to establish a fair system of mobility in which people are not exploited and countries are not suffering from the mobility of workers. The Code of Conduct is however only as strong as the partners that support it. It only works if we also identify incorrect application, put them on the table and make them transparent. The WHO Code and the Code of Conduct of the Social Partners are complementary in the European setting.”

PDF - 304.4 koMedia release

EPSU has also published an article on the event and the 10-year anniversary celebration.

Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector: Main activities and outcomes in 2017

In this document you can find the highlights of the work of the HOSPEEM-EPSU Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector. In 2017 the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector  dealt with a wide range of topics in the framework of the EPSU-HOSPEEM Joint Work Programme and carried out project-related activities.

PDF - 304.4 koDownload the document

HOSPEEM Activity Report 2017

The HOSPEEM Activity Report 2017 is published. This activity report presents basic information on the history of HOSPEEM, on the membership structure as well as on the main activities carried out during the year.

2017 has been a productive year with a number of achievements: the start of the new joint HOSPEEM-EPSU project on effective recruitment and retention policies including the June conference “Working together, learning together – Switching to the learning mode”, the start of the HOSPEEM-EPSU new work programme 2017-2019 for the European social dialogue, the high-level metings with European Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis and the Bulgarian Minister of Health Prof. Nikolai Petrov, the joint HOSPEEM-HOPE workshop “AMR and workplace learning – The case for a multi-professional approach in hospitals” at the European Parliament.

PDF - 304.4 koDownload the report

 

VADEMECUM – A Practical Guide for EU Social Partner Organisations and their National Affiliates to Commission support to EU Social Dialogue.

The “VADEMECUM – A Practical Guide for EU Social Partner Organisations and their National Affiliates to Commission support to EU Social Dialogue -2017” provides basic information on the instruments related to EU support to social dialogue and includes the existing rules to be respected when using these tools.  Download the guide.