/ Micro-entreprises and SMEs in the hospitality sector call for more flexibility on Working Conditions of the EU

Brussels, 9th November 2018 - HOTREC calls on all Members of the European Parliament to restart discussions on Working Conditions of the EU at the next plenary session. The report of the EMPL committee would highly damage companies in the sector, especially micro-enterprises and SMEs, as red tape has drastically increased. “The sector is composed by 1.9 million SMEs, from which 90% are micro-entreprises, and working with a full schedule of 24hrs / 7 days a week. The unpredictability of our activities (e.g. cook who needs to be replaced at last minute) makes it difficult for the sector to deliver written statements to all workers, especially on the first day of work. Moreover, the sector needs flexibility on the type of contracts it delivers. The nature of a non-permanent contract or a part-time contract is different and will be used depending on the employer’s needs, explained Susanne Kraus-Winkler, HOTREC President. “We are counting with the Members of the European Parliament to help the sector being able to continue providing jobs and growth”. Without a certain level of flexibility, namely the need to have an exception regime; the necessity of providing the information to the employee within a certain period of time (e.g. 7 days after the working relationship starts) and the flexibility that allows the employer to choose the type of contract it attributes the employee, the hospitality sector will face a tremendous challenge to overcome the red tape and to continue to be prosperous, commented Jean-Marc Banquet d’Orx, chair of HOTREC’s Sectorial Social Committee. Therefore, HOTREC urges the European Parliament to continue discussions in plenary. For further information: www.hotrec.eu PRESS CONTACT: Marta Machado +32(0)2 513 63 23, [email protected] HOTREC represents the hotel, restaurant and café industry at European level. The sector counts in total around 1.9 million businesses, being 99,5% small and medium sized enterprises (90% are micro enterprises, i.e. employing less than 10 people). These businesses make up some 60% of value added. The industry provides some 11.1 million jobs in the EU alone. Together with the other tourism industries, the sector is the 3rd largest industry in Europe. HOTREC brings together 44 national associations representing the interest of this industry in 30 different European countries.