Long-term care in focus: ELA report tackles sector challenges and #EUFairCare campaign kicks off

On 23 April 2026, the European Labour Authority presents a new study on the long-term care (LTC) sector at a high-level conference in Madrid, hosted by the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Economy. The event also marks the launch of the #EUFairCare campaign designed to help workers, employers, intermediaries and households understand their rights and obligations across EU borders. 

The conference brought together ELA Executive Director Cosmin Boiangiu, Yolanda Díaz Pérez, Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister of Labour and Social Economy, and Stefan Olsson, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. 

What the study found 

The ELA study identifies four key pressure points in the long-term care sector. 

A widening labour gap. Demand for care workers is growing faster than employment in the sector, driven by demographic ageing and unlikely to slow down. Despite ongoing social, technological and institutional innovation, supply is not keeping up. 

Poor working conditions. Low pay and long and irregular hours remain the norm. The physically and emotionally demanding nature of care work, combined with an ageing workforce, increases the risk of work-related accidents. 

Informal and unprotected recruitment. Families and employers increasingly rely on word of mouth, social media and online platforms to find workers. These channels are growing in importance, but often leave workers without adequate rights or social protection. 

Undeclared work and cross-border risks. Undeclared work is particularly common in care provided in private households. This form of care provision is carried out often by mobile workers. Complex cross-border subcontracting practices add another layer of risk for workers and regulators alike. 

The study acknowledges that good practices and policy measures are already in place across Member States. But it calls for continued attention, especially to close the information gaps affecting mobile EU/EFTA workers and third-country nationals. 

Read the report

The #EUFairCare campaign 

Launched at the same event, the campaign targets mobile workers, employers and the self-employed in LTC across EU/EEA countries. It will run in two phases: April–June and October–December 2026. 

It covers: 

• Rights and obligations of employers and employees
• Cross-border basics
• Benefits of declared work
• Recognition of qualifications abroad
• Employment fraud 

Video content is available in 24 EU languages, with subtitles in 4 non-EU languages. 

Follow #EUFairCare on ELA's social media or visit the campaign page for more. 

EU Fair Care web page