Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Greece (Ratification: 1981)

The Committee notes the observations of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises and Industries (SEV) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), as well as the observations of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE), all received on 31 August 2018. It further notes the Government’s reply to these observations received on 19 November 2018.

Articles 1, 2, 5 and 6 of the Convention. Representative organizations. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee notes that the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SBBE), which represents more than 500 enterprises located in various regions of the country, was recognized as a representative organisation by virtue of Law No. 4554/2018. The Government indicates that it continues to work in consultation with the most representative workers’ and employers’ organizations in addressing issues concerning international labour standards covered under Article 5(1) of the Convention either through written correspondence or by convening meetings of the Division for the Promotion of Application of International Labour Standards of the Higher Labour Council (the ILS Division), which is composed by the tripartite partners. In their observations, the SEV and the IOE, as well as the GSEE, maintain that the new National General Collective Labour Agreement, signed in March 2018 by all the national social partners, makes a specific request to the Government to activate a Tripartite Consultative Council, with the objective of strengthening the weakened tripartite consultations. In its response, the Government indicates that the ILS Division already provides the necessary institutional framework for conducting effective tripartite consultations on international labour standards for purposes of the Convention. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the meetings held by the ILS Division between 2015 and 2018. It notes that, at its May 2016 meeting, the ILS Division discussed the potential ratification of the Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137), and the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152). At its meeting in May 2017, the ILS Division discussed the items on the agenda of the 106th Conference. In its observations, the GSEE indicates that it has expressed strong support for the ratification of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, during the first and only meeting held by the tripartite body of the Ministry of Labour, but maintains that its request to hold additional tripartite meetings has not been accepted. The Government replies that, in the ILS Division’s meeting of January 2018, the possible ratification of the Protocol was decided upon unanimously and that the discussion ended without further objections by the GSEE. The Committee notes that, in May 2018, the ILS Division discussed the items on the agenda of the 107th Conference. The SEV and the IOE observe that most of the ILS Division meetings have been held in relation to the items on the agenda of the Conference and that all other information regarding the application of international labour standards has been provided to them through written communications. The Committee also notes the information regarding consultations held on the ratification of the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129). In their observations, the SEV and the IOE refer to the meeting of the ILS Division held in June 2018 to inform the social partners of the progress of the Working Group established to take the necessary measures for ratification of Convention No. 129. The Government indicates that its conclusions were transmitted to the social partners in July 2018 and that a subsequent meeting of the ILS Division will be convened to further consider ratification of Convention No. 129. In their observations, the SEV and the IOE refer to the low frequency of meetings between the Ministry of Labour and the social partners. In its response, the Government refers to the functioning of the Supreme Labour Council’s plenary sessions, indicating that these were held in nine occasions in 2017 and in 2018. The Government also reports on the technical meetings held with the Ministry and representatives of the social partners in 2018. Noting the existence of several tripartite bodies, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the competent body for the purposes of this Convention and to continue to provide updated information on the content, frequency and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on the matters concerning international labour standards as required under Article 5(1)(a)–(e) of the Convention, particularly consultations on the prospects of ratifying the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129), the Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137), the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152) and the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930.