Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Greece (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes the Government's report and its observations relating to the comments made by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE).

1. With reference to its previous observation, the Committee notes the information supplied in the Government's report to the effect that Act No. 2025 of 1992, which imposed restrictions on collective bargaining by workers in the public sector in the broad sense of the term, in public utility enterprises, local administrative organizations and state banks, ceased to be in force on 31 December 1992.

2. The Committee notes, however, that the GSEE states that in 1993 the Government again took steps by legislative means to: (i) suspend the implementation of the national general collective agreement in the public sector for workers employed under private employment contracts, workers in associations in the private sector and the staff of local administrations; (ii) impose a wage rise of 4 per cent for employees in branches of activity which are similar to the above; and (iii) confirm and extend the powers of the Minister of the National Economy to set maximum levels for wage increases for employees in the public sector in the broad sense of the term, and to extend these powers to 1994 just as it had done in the 1992 Act.

The Government admits that under section 3 of Act No. 2129, of 14 April 1993, the wages of workers employed by the State, by public utility enterprises and by local administrations under a private employment contract were increased by 4 per cent as of 1 January 1993 and states that this increase can be granted through collective bargaining. It also states that collective labour agreements which have already been concluded provide for an increase of 9 per cent, that bank employees have concluded a collective agreement providing for an initial increase of 3 per cent and a further increase of 12 per cent and that the national general collective agreement for the private sector was concluded on 6 June 1993 and provides for a wage increase of 5.4 per cent, followed by an increase of 8 per cent.

The Committee regrets that the Government has once again intervened in the free collective bargaining of terms and conditions of employment by employees in the public sector in the broad sense of the term, by setting maximum wage levels by legislative means for 1993 and 1994. The Committee recalls that it has already pointed out that the intervention of the Government in the field of collective bargaining, which has occurred over several years, prejudices the rights of workers and employers to negotiate their terms and conditions of employment freely. The Committee emphasizes that in the event of economic difficulties, the Government should give preference to persuasion to constraint and that in any case the final decision should rest with the parties to the agreement.

The Committee therefore requests the Government to re-examine its position in the light of the above comments and to keep the Committee informed of any development in the situation.