Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Greece (Ratification: 1985)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

The Committee notes the observations of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) received on 1 September 2023 and the Government’s response to these observations received on 24 November 2023.

Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding the measures taken to promote the employment of persons with disabilities, including the legislative provisions prohibiting discrimination based on disability (including chronic diseases) in employment. Regarding the practical application of the Convention, the Government indicates that the Ombudsman is designated as the body responsible for monitoring and promoting the principle of equal treatment based on prohibited grounds of discrimination, including disability or chronic illness. It adds that, in the context of its inspection duties, the Labour Inspectorate deals with cases falling within the scope of legislation by informing the Ombudsman, without delay, reserving in each case the latter’s competence to investigate and formulate its final finding on the complaint. Discrimination on the grounds of disability or chronic illness by a person acting as an employer at any stage of access to occupation and employment, when concluding or refusing to conclude an employment agreement or during its duration, operation, development or termination, constitutes a violation of labour legislation for which administrative sanctions are imposed by the Labour Inspectorate. The Committee notes the number of complaints during the 2017–22 period for cases of infringement of the principle of equal treatment for persons with disabilities in the field of employment (a total of 17 complaints and four fines imposed). The Committee notes from the 2019 concluding observations on the initial report of Greece that the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) noted with concern the high level of unemployment among persons with disabilities and the insufficient efforts to ensure their inclusion in the open labour market, particularly with regard to women with disabilities (CRPD/C/GRC/CO/1). It was also concerned about the lack of effective measures to improve and facilitate the provision of specific measures and individualized support in the workplace and of more effective and accessible services for persons with disabilities seeking employment. Noting that no statistical data on the employment rate of persons with disabilities was included in the Government’s report, the Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on the employment rate of persons with disabilities and to indicate how it periodically reviews its national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities to promote their employment in the open labour market, including by offering adapted and accessible employment services for persons with disabilities. It also requests the Government to provide information, including statistical data, on the impact of the measures taken relating to vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. Additionally, it requests the Government to continue to provide information on the sanctions and amounts of fines imposed by the inspection services.

Article 5. Consultation with the social partners. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that representatives of the beneficiaries of Law No. 2643/1998 on the “employment of persons of special categories and other provisions”, as well as a representative of the employers, participate in the Committees of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security that deal with the implementation of Law 2643/1998. Among others, a representative of the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (ESAMEA) and a representative of the Association of Enterprises and Industries (SEV) participate in those Committees. The Government adds that, during a meeting of the Social Inspection Council of Labour Inspection (SKEEE) in April 2021, the inclusion of a module on persons with disabilities and chronic diseases in the theoretical training of prospective labour inspectors was discussed, to enhance the ability of labour inspectors to detect incidents of unequal treatment due to disability or chronic disease. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated information on the content and outcome of the consultations held with the social partners and organizations representing persons with disabilities on the matters covered by the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its earlier comments, and in particular, that concerning the role of the local offices of the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) in providing services to disabled persons (Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention), as well as statistical information and indications concerning various programmes conducted for disabled persons by the General Secretariat for Youth.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply, in its future reports, information concerning practical application of the Convention, including for example statistics, extracts from reports, studies and inquiries, concerning the matters covered by the Convention (for example, with respect to particular areas or branches of activity or particular categories of disabled persons), as required by point V of the report form.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. 1. With reference to its earlier comments, the Committee notes from the Government's report that, apart from seven vocational rehabilitation offices for disabled persons operating in the capital and some other cities of the country and providing vocational guidance, vocational training and placement for these persons, the local offices of the Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED) as well as the offices of the OAED correspondents which are usually based in the prefectures, also render information to disabled persons and provide services to them on issues falling within their competence. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate, in its next report: (1) whether these local offices and the offices of the OAED correspondents provide vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and other related services for disabled persons; (2) whether they are used with necessary adaptations to enable disabled persons to secure, retain and advance in employment; and (3) whether they provide services for disabled persons in rural areas and remote communities.

2. The Committee also notes from the Government's report that a study concerning the evaluation of the special services for disabled persons, referred to by the Government in its previous report, has not been conducted, but there is a general code in the National Centre of Social Researches in which reference is made to the services providing vocational training in the country. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply, in its next report, any relevant extracts from this code concerning, in particular, vocational guidance, vocational training, placement, employment and other related services for disabled persons.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government in reply to its earlier comments, and in particular, that concerning consultation procedures in the committees established by Law No. 1648 (Article 5 of the Convention). It would be grateful if, in its next report, the Government would provide information on the following points:

Articles 7 and 8. The Committee notes from the Government's report that a study is being conducted by a research group of the National Research Centre concerning the evaluation of the special services provided for disabled persons. It asks the Government to supply a copy of this study, or any relevant extracts, where available. The Committee also notes that, apart from seven special offices for vocational rehabilitation operating in the capital and in some other cities of the country, local offices of the OAED also provide services to "persons with special needs". It asks the Government to indicate: (1) whether these local offices provide vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and other related services for disabled persons; (2) whether they are used with necessary adaptations to enable disabled persons to secure, retain and advance in employment; and (3) whether they provide services for disabled persons in rural areas and remote communities.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

The Committee notes that the Governments report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee takes note of the provisions of Law No. 1648, which provide that a representative of the disabled shall sit on the committees of the Ministry of Labour. However, the Government states in its report that, despite all efforts in the area of decision-making, employers' and workers' organisations do not participate actively. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the consultation procedures in the committees established by Law No. 1648 and on any measure taken or contemplated to ensure consultations with representative organisations of employers and workers, in order to give effect to this Article.

Article 7. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide additional information on the measures taken to evaluate the special services provided for disabled persons, as well as practical indications on the use of existing services for workers generally, with the necessary adaptations.

Article 8. The Committee takes note of the general information on the number of special offices for vocational rehabilitation and the measures taken to cover the needs of a greater number of disabled persons throughout the territory. However, it would be grateful if the Government would supply additional information to facilitate a better evaluation of the scope of the measures taken to promote vocational rehabilitation services "in rural areas and remote communities".

Point V of the report form. Please provide general information on the manner in which practical effect is given to the Convention, for example by furnishing relevant extracts from the reports of the committees set up by Law No. 1648 or any other information concerning the implementation of this Law by the Manpower Employment Office.