Launch of the First National Observatory on Personal and Household Services in Spain

On the 26^th of March, the first meeting of the National Observatory on Personal and Household Services (PHS) in Spain was launched within the framework of the PHSDialogue project. The event was hosted by the permanent representation of the European Commission in Spain and co-organised by Ana Garrido López, President of AESPD – the Spanish Association of Personal and Domestic Services and EFSI – European Federation for Services to Individuals.

This initiative aims to foster social dialogue in the personal and household services (PHS) sector at both EU and national levels. The creation of this National Observatory on PHS in Spain marks a significant step in structuring the sector, offering a dedicated space to:

• Provide a forum to discuss the challenges facing the sector.
• Identify obstacles to improving working conditions for domestic workers and initiate negotiations between social partners.
• Establish a regular dialogue between PHS representatives in Spain.

Key Discussions and Contributions

The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from European institutions, policy makers, social partners, and academic experts, to reflect on the present and future of the domestic and home care sector in Spain.

EFFE was present on behalf of the project consortium to introduce PHSDialogue and its key deliverables, including the PHS Monitor and the Toolkit on Employer’s Organisation Capacity Building on the PHS Sector, which aim to support social partners in structuring social dialogue and strengthening the sector.

The discussions were enriched by expert contributions, including:

• Marta Pradanos (European Commission) – Presented the role of sectorial social dialogue at the European level and the Commission’s ambition to integrate the PHS sector.
• Maria Gema Quintero Lima (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid) – Highlighted the legal challenges facing the sector and the need for clear sectoral agreements.
• Sara López González (ILO representation in Spain) – Stressed the importance of ratifying Convention 189 and removing barriers to unionization for both domestic workers and employers, ensuring full access to social dialogue mechanisms.
  
  

Laying the Groundwork for a Structured Social Dialogue

The final panel brought together employers’ and workers’ representatives, setting the basis for a much-needed discussion on the structuring of social dialogue.

• Daniel Ibiza (AESPD) emphasized the importance of recognizing the PHS sector as a key economic and social driver. He underlined the need for financial incentives to encourage declared employment and accessibility to these services for families.
• Eduardo Galicia (Representative of large families) called for improved work-life balance policies and measures to ensure quality employment in the sector while considering the financial capacity of families.
• Juan José Montoya (CCOO) & Marina Prieto (UGT) emphasized the importance of defining the exact scope of the sector before engaging in collective bargaining. They pointed out that Spain can take inspiration from existing collective agreements in other sectors that faced similar structuring challenges. Additionally, they stressed that the representation of employers must be strengthened to enable balanced negotiations.

This discussion laid the foundation for future dialogue and emphasized the importance of a structured and inclusive approach to shaping the sector’s development.

Moving Forward Together

This first National Observatory meeting has been a milestone in reinforcing collaboration between key stakeholders. It reaffirmed our commitment to:

Improving working conditions for domestic workers.
Increasing recognition and visibility for this essential work.
Supporting both employers and workers through representative organizations.

We invite all stakeholders to keep moving forward together, equipping the sector with the necessary tools and solutions to ensure its sustainability and development.