CELSI Managing Director Marta Kahancová spoke at the 28th professional conference “Balancing Regulation and Support in Respecting Human Rights, Financing Social Services, and Staffing Standards”, held on 10–11 March 2026 in the High Tatras, Slovakia.

The conference focused on current challenges in the social services sector, particularly on finding a balance between regulation and support for service providers, safeguarding the rights of service users, ensuring sustainable financing of the system, and securing sufficient staffing capacities.

The organizers prepared expert lectures, discussions, and meetings with respected specialists from practice, public administration, and partner organizations.

On the second day of the conference, Wednesday 11 March 2026, Marta Kahancová delivered a presentation titled: “Can improving working conditions help stabilize the workforce? – Findings from the DEVCOBA project survey on collective bargaining in social services.”

In her presentation, she introduced research findings focusing on working conditions in the social services sector and the role of collective bargaining in stabilizing the workforce in this field.

🔗 To learn more about the research results of the DEVCOBA project: https://celsi.sk/sk/devcoba/

During the conference, a memorandum of cooperation between social service providers and employee representatives was also signed, aiming to address the growing shortage of workers in healthcare and social services and to stabilize the workforce through systemic reforms and improved funding.

We are grateful for the recognition expressed by the conference organizers that the cooperation between providers and trade unions in the long-term care sector was initiated in part through CELSI’s efforts to foster dialogue between the social partners.

CELSI has long been engaged in research supporting the coordination of social partners aimed at improving working conditions in the care sector.

Within this area, the institute has conducted several research projects and organized events aimed at strengthening social dialogue among social partners.

We thank the conference organizers, partners, and participants for creating a space for expert discussion.

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