What is EFSI?
The European Federation for Services to Individuals (EFSI) is the voice of the home services sector at the European level. Founded in 2006, it represents national associations, employer organizations, and companies operating in personal and household services across 21 EU countries.
The PHS sector includes everything that happens inside the home:
- Care services: childcare, babysitting, elderly care, assistance for people with disabilities
- Household support services: cleaning, ironing, gardening, minor repairs
EFSI's mission is to make the sector more organized, more recognized, and to push for policies that support it.
The Announcement: First Greek Company in EFSI
We are thrilled to announce that Athens Home Services has officially become a full member of EFSI — the European Federation for Services to Individuals.
We are the first Greek company to join this network.
The decision was made at EFSI's Extraordinary General Assembly, after 4 years of close collaboration. This is not just a distinction for us — it's a significant moment for the entire sector in Greece.
A Dream Come True
In Greece, personal and household services — what Europe calls Personal and Household Services (PHS) — is a sector without structure, without rules, and largely without social security contributions. Workers operate "under the table." No one takes them seriously. And often, they don't take their work seriously either.
But I believed — and still believe — that this sector deserves to become a profession in the full sense of the word.
Today, this conviction has reached a new milestone.
Alongside Europe's Leading Names
As a member of EFSI, Athens Home Services now stands alongside leading organizations in the sector:
National Associations: DOMINA (Italy), AESPD (Spain), Almega Hemserviceföretagen (Sweden), Fédésap (France), Federgon (Belgium), AHDW, VHBP, BHDU (Germany), Hyvinvointiala (Finland), UZS (Czech Republic).
Company Members: Oui Care, Edenred, Pluxee, Group Daenens (Belgium), Medical Link Services.
It is both an honor and a responsibility.
What This Means for Greece
This is not just recognition for Athens Home Services. It means:
A Voice in Europe
Greece now has a seat at the table in discussions shaping the future of the sector at the European level.
Access to Know-How
We bring to Greece standards, methods, and practices that already work in other European countries.
Pressure for Change
With EFSI behind us, we have a stronger platform to demand regulation and recognition of the sector.
Network & Partnerships
We enter a community of people doing the same work across Europe.
Are you a care or household assistance professional?
Join a company that respects you. Legal employment, training, stability.
SUBMIT YOUR CV
With the EFSI team at the European Parliament.
The Road Ahead: Our Priorities
In Greece, the PHS sector still has a long way to go. The majority of work is done "under the table." Workers have no protection. Employers struggle to find reliable, trained professionals who stay in their positions. There is no organization — the sector operates without clear structure or regulation.
Our participation in EFSI is a commitment to change this picture. Our priorities:
For Workers:
- Promoting training programs and professional certification
- Fair working conditions, legal protection, and higher wages
- Clear contracts with job descriptions
For Employers:
- Incentives such as vouchers to make legal employment more affordable
- Tax relief for those who declare workers
- Standardized contracts with clear roles and responsibilities
- Access to trained care professionals
For the Sector:
- European standards in the Greek market
- Pressure for policies that recognize the sector
- A voice for a profession that no one took seriously
The goal is simple: make legal work the easy choice — cheaper for the employer, better paid for the worker, better for everyone. And above all, the professionalization of a sector that finally deserves to be treated as a legitimate profession.
Acknowledgments
None of this would have been possible without our team, our partners, and our clients who trusted us from the beginning.
We thank EFSI and all its members who welcomed us.
This is only the beginning.
Useful Links:
Learn more about EFSI: www.efsi-europe.eu
Learn more about Athens Home Services: athenshomeservices.gr/candidate
