The FUTOURWORK project is a 3.5-year, multi-national research initiative aiming to strengthen inclusive social dialogue within Europe’s tourism and hospitality sector. Coordinated by the University of Westminster and funded by Horizon Europe, the project brings together expertise from eight partners across six countries to address systemic challenges impacting 13 million workers within this critical economic sector. The American College of Greece Research Center (ACG-RC) participates through the ACG150 Center of Excellence in Food, Tourism and Leisure (CoEFTL), with the scientific leads being grant holder George Skourtis and co-coordinator Maria Vrasida. With a focus on inclusive dialogue, worker well-being, and fair policy, FUTOURWORK seeks to mitigate the adverse effects of precarious gig work, job insecurity, and labor inequality.

By engaging with diverse stakeholders—ranging from workers and employers to social dialogue organizations—FUTOURWORK will conduct in-depth research on sectoral best practices, challenges, and new policies required to foster fairness and resilience across the tourism and hospitality workforce. The project also examines the intersectional dynamics within these industries, focusing on supporting women, migrants, and youth, who form a large part of this workforce.

The project is set to launch on January 2025.

Key Objectives and Outputs

1. Inclusive Social Dialogue: Facilitate meaningful engagement with workers, employers, and dialogue organizations through activities such as surveys, interviews, storytelling, and multi-stakeholder dialogues.
2. Worker Well-being Index: Develop an industry benchmark to track worker satisfaction, safety, and inclusivity.
3. Documentary and Storytelling Initiatives: Produce a documentary that documents the lived experiences of tourism and hospitality workers.
4. Observatory Platform: Create a digital observatory to centralize information on worker rights and provide a collaborative forum for continued discussion among stakeholders.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Aligned with the United Nations SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), FUTOURWORK aims to set a benchmark for policies that promote safe, inclusive, and fair working conditions. This initiative is part of a broader strategic commitment by project leaders to contribute to a more resilient and healthy society that aligns with sustainable development principles.

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Official project links (external):

FUTOURWORK on CORDIS

FUTOURWORK website