How we interact with Europe
The main focus of NHS Employers interaction with Europe is through our membership of two European Social Partner organisations. Membership of CEEP (which represents European public sector employers) and the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers' Association (HOSPEEM) allows the NHS to influence employment policy developments emerging from the
Our involvement with CEEP
NHS Employers is a member of CEEP (European Public Sector Employers). CEEP is a European cross sector Social Partner which is engaged in Social Dialogue with UNICE (Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe) and ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation).
Our involvement with HOSPEEM
NHS Employers has played a leading role in the establishment of the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers' Association (HOSPEEM). HOSPEEM offers the NHS the opportunity to learn from the experience of hospital and healthcare employers in other countries and influence workforce policy developments likely to affect the health sector.
European Workforce Forum
NHS Employers has established a European Workforce Forum which will help shape our European work programme.
Working time and temporary workers
An agreement has been reached on the Working Time Directive and the potential Directive on the Working Conditions of Temporary Workers at the European Employment and Social Affairs Council (the meeting of European Employment Ministers).
Green Paper on Labour Law
In November 2006 the European Commission launched a consultation on its Green Paper on Labour Law, looking at the elements of the labour market that should be regulated at European level and how this should be done.
Initiatives on needlestick injuries
In December 2006 the European Commission launched a first stage consultation of the European Social Partners on protecting European healthcare workers from blood-borne infections due to needlestick injuries. The Commission asked the Social Partners for their opinion on whether there should be an initiative to strengthen the protection of European h
Ethical code of conduct
The European Hospital and Healthcare Employers' Association (HOSPEEM) and The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) recently launched a code of conduct on ethical cross-border recruitment and retention in the European hospital sector. Through the code of conduct, the European Hospital Sector Social Partners aim to promote ethical recr
Flexicurity
NHS Employers is taking part in a project which is exploring the concept of flexicurity in the European Union. The aim of the project is to provide public sector stakeholders who are involved in restructuring, with knowledge and information on how to implement innovative solutions.
Proposed changes to maternity leave
The European Commission has published its proposals to amend the current Directive on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the health and safety at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding. The main amendments to the Directive are an increase in the length of maternity leave an
