Roadmap to rebuild the hospitality sector

Roadmap to rebuild the hospitality sector

HOTREC, the European umbrella association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés, and its trade union counterpart EFFAT, the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions, call upon the EU and Member States to follow a range of proposed measures to put the hospitality sector back on track. Social partners commit to cooperate in several joint actions, aiming at preparing the sector for future challenges.

The COVID-19 crisis is putting the survival of companies in the hospitality sector at risk and millions of jobs are at stake. In order to respond to the crisis, the social partners present today, on the occasion of the plenary meeting of their European sectoral social dialogue, a Joint Statement on short-term and long-term measures required to rebuild the hospitality sector.

In the short-term, it is necessary to make full use of all instruments that can support the viability of companies (e.g. rental relief, compensation of loss-turnover, wage subsidies, tax and social contributions relaxation) and ensure the retention of jobs (e.g. short-time work arrangements, income support schemes). Such measures should be further extended, to help save as many jobs as possible and to avoid massive layoffs. Moreover, companies need to strictly follow health and safety protocols, so that employees and consumers feel safe. Finally, further harmonisation and ease of border travel restrictions is key, so that travel planning is possible.

In the long-run, social partners demand that hospitality-tourism is included as one of the top priorities in national recovery plans, as only in this way, the sector will be able to move towards a more resilient future, encompassing digital and sustainable developments, as well as up-skilling and re-skilling.

The social partners are committed to cooperate and to support the actions taken by EU and Member States to reach these goals.

“The hospitality sector needs to be rebuilt. Social partners commit to take action in order to help companies survive, keep as many jobs as possible and help the sector engage on a more sustainable and digital-friendly era”, commented Marie Audren, HOTREC Director General.

“We need to boost demand, rebuild consumers’ trust, ensure quality jobs, and give workers a say in driving recovery. With the right support, millions of jobs can be saved, and the sector will be able to flourish again”, stated Kristjan Bragason, EFFAT General Secretary.

For further information: www.hotrec.eu and www.effat.org
Press Contact: Alessia Angiulli, HOTREC, +32 (0)2 504 78 45, [email protected]
Kerstin Howald, +32 (0)2 218 77 30, [email protected]

HOTREC represents the hotel, restaurant and café industry at European level. The sector counts in total around 1.8 million businesses, being 99,5% small and medium sized enterprises (91% are micro enterprises, i.e. employing less than 10 people). These businesses make up some 60% of value added. The industry provides some 10 million jobs in the EU alone. Together with the other tourism industries, the sector is the 3rd largest industry in Europe. HOTREC brings together 45 national associations representing the interest of this industry in 33 different European countries.

EFFAT is the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions, also representing domestic workers. As a European Trade Union Federation representing 120 national trade unions from 35 European countries, EFFAT defends the interests of more than 25 million workers towards the European Institutions, European employers’ associations and transnational companies. EFFAT is a member of the ETUC and the European regional organisation of the IUF.