Solicitud directa (CEACR) - Adopción: 2025, Publicación: 114ª reunión CIT (2026)

Grecia

Convenio sobre la igualdad de trato (accidentes del trabajo), 1925 (núm. 19) (Ratificación : 1936)
Convenio sobre las enfermedades profesionales (revisado), 1934 (núm. 42) (Ratificación : 1952)
Convenio sobre la seguridad social (norma mínima), 1952 (núm. 102) (Ratificación : 1955)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on social security, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 19 (equality of treatment), 42 (occupational diseases) and 102 (minimum standards) together.

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

Article 1(2) of Convention No. 19. Provision of benefits abroad. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the exportability of benefits to non-EU countries is explicitly governed by bilateral social security agreements. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether both national and foreign workers, as well as their dependants, receive benefits due to work-related accidents if they reside in non-EU countries with which no social security agreements have been concluded. It further requests the Government to provide information on any social security agreements concluded with non-EU countries.

Application of Convention No. 19 in practice. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that all work-related accidents are handled in a single manner, irrespective of whether the workers are foreign or Greek nationals or whether their working relationship is legal or not. The Committee further takes note of the GSEE’s observations regarding the challenges faced by foreign workers without valid residence permits or documentation in accessing benefits due to work-related accidents. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect. It also requests the Government to provide data on the number of foreign workers, or their dependants, who receive benefits due to work-related accidents, as well as the number and nature of reported accidents involving foreign workers.

Application of Convention No. 42 in practice. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that while the working group was set out in 2018 to determine the criteria for the recognition of occupational diseases, it did not complete its work due to disagreements among its members on the appropriateness of setting such criteria. The Government further indicates that the National Strategy on Health and Safety at Work 2022–2027 includes various measures to improve the recording and monitoring of occupational diseases, such as the establishment of a coordinating body, extensive consultations with social partners, and the conduct of actuarial studies. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the procedure for recognizing the occupational origin of diseases applied in practice, as well as the number of persons diagnosed with an occupational disease and receiving benefits from the Unified Social Security Institution (EFKA). It further requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure the monitoring and collection of statistical data on occupational diseases.

Articles 16, 17, 18 and 65 of Convention No. 102. The Committee takes notes of the information provided by the Government concerning the provision of sickness benefits, replacement rates of old-age, disability and survivors’ benefits, adjustment of benefits and reduction of poverty measures.

Articles 71(3) and 72(2) of Convention No. 102. Preserving the viability of the social security system. The Committee notes that the Government refers to adjusting the retirement age according to changes in life expectancy as one of the measures aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the country’s pension system. The Government also indicates the establishment of the Hellenic Auxiliary Pensions Defined Contributions Fund (TEKA) to introduce a funded system of defined contributions for supplementary insurance. According to the Government, this funded system is expected to contribute to economic growth and employment. The Committee further notes the Government’s reference to the 2024 Ageing Report of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the European Union, which projects, among other trends, a decline in public pension expenditure, ageing population, and a decrease in the average pension over the period 2022–70 in Greece.

The Committee takes note of the GSEE’s observations, which reiterate that the 2016 pension reforms were driven by economic crisis measures and focused primarily on fiscal adjustments rather than insurance-based and operational effectiveness. According to the GSEE Labour Institute’s 2024 Annual Report, social security contributions remain low due to high unemployment, low wages, and the increasing informalization of work, posing a threat to the financial sustainability of social security funds. The GSEE further emphasizes the need for more detailed information on measures to ensure a stable institutional framework, transparent governance and adequate funding of the compulsory public social security system.

The Committee recalls that under Articles 71(3) and 72(2) of the Convention, the Government shall accept general responsibility for the due provision of benefits and the proper administration of social security institutions and services, ensuring that the necessary actuarial studies and calculations concerning financial equilibrium are made periodically, where appropriate. In this context, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure the sustainability of the EFKA, including information on any relevant actuarial studies.