The Hotel, restaurant and catering, Horeca sector is an important sector of the EU economy. In 2023, the tourism industries, including Horeca, employed over 10.4 million workers in the EU, accounting for about 5.1% of all workers aged 15-64 years. The overwhelming majority of these workers are engaged in the Horeca sector. Horeca is particularly important in the economies of Mediterranean EU Member States, adding value and creating jobs. As part of the broader tourism industry, Horeca has strong direct and indirect linkages with other industries.
The sector characterised by an above-average prevalence of mobile workers, young workers and female workforce.
One of the measures suggested in the report is to increase the information and awareness activities in the sector to increase the knowledge of the rights and obligations of the employees, employers and self-employed. ELA is to that end launching today a campaign targeted towards the HORECA sector, the Fair HORECA in EU – campaign. It will continue from today until summer 2025. ELA will, in cooperation with the Member States, publish material in all EU languages, as well as a number of non-EU languages, throughout the campaign.
Main findings of the report
The Horeca sector employs a diverse range of workers, including young, female and mobile workers. More than 53% of all Horeca workers in the EU are female and more than 20% of all Horeca workers are 24 years old or younger. The share of mobile workers in the Horeca sector was 19% in 2022, and 12.6 % of the Horeca workforce were third country nationals.
The sector offers various flexible work arrangements, including temporary work, short-term contracts and part-time work, reflecting the fluctuating nature of consumer demand. Nevertheless, the high prevalence of mobile workers may pose challenges in the application of labour law and social security coordination rules. At the same time, labour shortages in the Horeca sector, in particular since the waning of the Covid-19 crisis, are a significant challenge. Commonly cited shortage occupations include chefs, cooks and waiters.
The European employment services network (EURES), a cooperation network of the European Commission and the ELA, public employment services, other employment services, trade unions and employers’ organisations, plays an important role in supporting job matching and integration services. Innovative recruitment strategies, such as the European (Online) Job Days, have also been employed to attract workers to the Horeca sector.
Although EU law does not include Horeca-specific legislation, EU-level policies aim to ensure fair working conditions across all sectors, including the accommodation and food services. EU regulation mandates equal treatment for EU mobile workers concerning remuneration, dismissal and trade union membership.
However, enforcement authorities also face challenges in enforcing labour mobility and social security coordination rules. Effective enforcement relies on interinstitutional cooperation and innovative approaches to monitoring and compliance. Cross-border cooperation is important. Joint inspections, information-sharing and peer-learning initiatives can help ensure compliance with labour and social security regulations.
In addition, raising awareness among workers about their rights and available support services is crucial for fostering a culture of compliance and protecting vulnerable workers.
Access to information is critical for mobile workers in the Horeca sector, who often lack knowledge of their rights.
More information: ELA
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