Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Maternity Protection Convention (Revised), 1952 (No. 103) - Greece (Ratification: 1983)

The Committee notes the observations of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) received on 29 August 2024.

Article 4(2) and (5) of the Convention. Adequate benefits out of social assistance funds. The Committee notes the Government’s indication, in its report, that child benefits are provided by the Organisation of Welfare Benefits and Social Solidarity (ΟPΕΚΑ) and are determined based on the total income of the household (“equivalized household income”). In particular, families with an equivalized household income of up to €6,000 receive a child benefit of €70 per month for the first dependent child. Furthermore, OPEKA provides a birth allowance of €2,400 for the first child, disbursed in two equal instalments on the first and fifth months following birth.

The Committee further observes that child benefits are provided to persons who have legally and permanently resided in Greece for at least 5 years, or at least 12 years in the case of non-EU citizens (section 11 of the Act No. 4512/2018, Chapter 214 on the Child Benefit). The Committee also observes from Eurostat data that the at-risk-of-poverty threshold for a single person in Greece was €6,030 per year (€502.5 per month) in 2023.

The Committee requests the Government to indicate: (i) the social assistance benefits available to women workers who are not qualified for child benefits due to the insufficient period of legal and permanent residence; and (ii) the extent to which child benefits, along with other cash benefits provided during the 12 weeks of maternity leave, are sufficient to ensure the full and healthy maintenance of women and their children in accordance with a suitable standard of living.

Article 6. Dismissals during maternity leave. The Committee notes that, under section 291 of Presidential Decree No. 62/2025, the termination of an employment relationship is prohibited during pregnancy and for 18 months after childbirth, except in cases of serious cause. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that the Labour Inspectorate is responsible for monitoring compliance with labour laws, including maternity protection provisions. During 2013–2022, the Labour Inspectorate treated 282 complaints related to the dismissal of pregnant workers and 139 complaints concerning contract termination during the maternity protection period. The Committee further notes its detailed comments under the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) indicating the issues of illegal dismissal of pregnant women in the private sector. The Committee recalls that under Article 6 of the Convention, while a woman is absent from work on maternity leave, it shall not be lawful for her employer to give her notice of dismissal during such absence, or to give her notice of dismissal at such a time that the notice would expire during such absence. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that women workers are not dismissed during maternity leave, without any exceptions. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of illegal dismissals of women on maternity leave detected by the Labour Inspectorate.

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the GSEE’s observations regarding the unclear distinction of responsibilities for maternity protection provisions between the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family. Additionally, the GSEE highlights the lack of coordinated data for maternity protection policy issues. Furthermore, it points out the lack of social dialogue, which hinders the implementation of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

The Committee recalls that the ILO Governing Body at its 349th Session, (October–November 2023), on the recommendation of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group, acknowledged the classification of Convention No. 103 as outdated, and placed an item on the agenda of the 121st Session of the International Labour Conference (2033) for the consideration of its abrogation.

The Governing Body also requested the Office to undertake follow-up action to actively encourage the ratification of up-to-date instruments concerning maternity protection, particularly the Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183). The Committee therefore encourages the Government to give effect to the decision of the Governing Body at its 349th Session (October–November 2023) approving the recommendations of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group, and to consider ratifying Convention No. 183 as the most up-to-date instrument in this subject area.