Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Greece (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. The Committee also notes that the Government has been requested to provide information to the Committee on the Application of Standards at the 106th Session of the International Labour Conference for failure to supply reports and information on the application of ratified Conventions.

The Committee further notes the detailed observations provided by the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) dated 31 August 2016 and 31 August 2017 generally concerning the state of play of labour norms and rights in Greece, 2010–17, the impact of the measures in the framework of the country’s stability programme and memorandum of understanding conditionality, and in particular specific observations in relation to the application of the Convention. The Committee expresses its firm expectation that the Government will provide detailed information in reply to the GSEE observations and on all the matters raised in the Committee’s previous comments for its consideration at its next meeting.

In its previous comments, the Committee had noted the observations by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) received on 1 September 2014. The Committee recalls that the observations of the ITUC concerned clashes with the police forces during a protest action in a shipyard, followed by the arrest of workers and charges against 12 trade unionists, and once again requests the Government to provide its comments thereon. The Committee had also noted the observations received on 19 November 2014 from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) concerning an imminent trial for participation in a general strike in 2013 and once again requests the Government to provide its comments thereon.

Article 3 of the Convention. Right of workers’ organizations to organize their activities and formulate their programmes. The Committee recalls that in its previous comments it had requested the Government to reply to the concerns that had been raised by the GSEE in relation to the closure of the Workers’ Housing Organization (OEK) and the Workers’ Social Fund (OEE). The Committee had noted the Government’s indication that the Organization for Mediation and Arbitration (OMED) had become the full successor to all rights and obligations of these two bodies. It had further noted with interest that in 2013 the annual financial support for trade unions resumed and a Joint Ministerial Decision was issued in 2014 on coverage for trade unions and the Institute of Labour of the GSEE which, according to the Government, was aimed at assisting the collective organization and action of the labour force with a view to improving their living standards and provides various subsidies to trade unions. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments on the latest observations of the GSEE in relation to the representation and activities of the OMED.

[The Government is asked to reply in full to the present comments in 2018.]