Greece
Greece ratified the European Social Charter on 06/06/1984 and the Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter on 18/06/1998.
It ratified the Revised Social Charter on 18 March 2016, accepting 96 of the 98 paragraphs.
It accepted the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints on 18/06/1998, but has not yet made a declaration enabling national NGOs to submit collective complaints.
The Charter in domestic law
Under Article 28(1) of the Constitution: “International conventions as of the time they are sanctioned by statute and become operative according to their respective conditions, shall be an integral part of domestic Greek law and shall prevail over any contrary provision of the law. The rules of international law and of international conventions shall be applicable to aliens only under the condition of reciprocity.”
Country factsheets
The country factsheets include detailed information on the findings of the European Committee of Social Rights when monitoring the application of the Charter at national level, as well as examples of progress in the implementation of the rights protected by the Charter.
Latest Ad hoc report by Greece
- Ad hoc Report on the on the cost-of-living crisis submitted by Greece, 21 December 2023
See previous reports in respect of Greece
Latest conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2022 concerning Greece (Thematic group Labour rights)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2020 concerning Greece (Thematic group Employment, training and equal opportunities)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2019 concerning Greece (Thematic group Children, families and migrants)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2017 concerning Greece (Thematic group Health, social security and social protection)
See all conclusions in respect of Greece (HUDOC)
Latest findings of the European Committee of Social Rights
Findings 2019 of the European Committee of Social Rights on the follow-up to decisions on the merits in collective complaints in respect of Greece.
Table of accepted and non-accepted provisions by Greece
Grey = Accepted provisions
| 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| 6.4 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 7.10 | 8.1 |
| 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 9 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 11.1 | 11.2 |
| 11.3 | 12.1 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 13.1 | 13.2 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 14.1 | 14.2 | 15.1 |
| 15.2 | 15.3 | 16 | 17.1 | 17.2 | 18.1 | 18.2 | 18.3 | 18.4 | 19.1 | 19.2 | 19.3 |
| 19.4 | 19.5 | 19.6 | 19.7 | 19.8 | 19.9 | 19.10 | 19.11 | 19.12 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26.1 | 26.2 | 27.1 | 27.2 | 27.3 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31.1 |
| 31.2 | 31.3 | ||||||||||
Meetings and reports on non-accepted provisions
Collective complaints procedure
Greece accepted the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints on 18/06/1998, but has not yet made a declaration enabling national NGOs to submit collective complaints.
The complaint registered on 26 September 2014, concerns Article 1 (the right to work), Article 2 (the right to just conditions of work), Article 4 (the right to a fair remuneration) and Article 7 (the right of children and young persons to protection) of the 1961 Charter, as well as Article 3 of the 1988 Additional Protocol (the right to take part in the determination and improvement of the working conditions and working environment). The complainant trade union, GSEE, alleges that some of the new legislation enacted as part of the austerity measures adopted in Greece during the economic and financial crisis affects workers’ rights in a manner that is contrary to the Charter.
- Case Document no. 1, Complaint registered on 26 September 2014
- Case Document no. 2, Observations by the Government on admissibility
- Case Document no. 3, Observations by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
- Case Document no. 4, Observations by the International Organisation of Employers (IOE)
- Case Document no. 5, Submissions of the Government on the merits
- Case Document no. 6, European Commission Observations
- Case Document no. 7, Response of Greek General Confederation of Labour to the Government’s Submissions
- Case Document no. 8, Further submissions provided by the participants of the hearing of 20 October 2016
The European Committee of Social Rights declared the complaint admissible on 19 May 2015.
The European Committee of Social Rights held a public hearing on 20 October 2016.
The European Committee of Social Rights adopted its decision on the merits on 23 March 2017.
In its decision on the merits, the Committee concludes:
- by 9 votes to 3 that there is no violation of Article 1§1 of the 1961 Charter;
- unanimously that there is a violation of Article 1§2 of the 1961 Charter;
- unanimously that there is a violation of Article 2§1 of the 1961 Charter;
- unanimously that there is no violation of Article 2§5 of the 1961 Charter;
- unanimously that there is a violation of Article 4§1 of the 1961 Charter on the grounds that
- a) fair remuneration is not guaranteed;
- b) the reduction of the minimum wage for workers under 25 years is excessive and constitutes discrimination on grounds of age;
- unanimously that there is a violation of Article 4§4 of the 1961 Charter;
- unanimously that there is a violation of Article 7§5 of the 1961 Charter on the grounds that the minimum wage of young workers aged 15 to 18 years is not fair;
- unanimously that there is a violation of Article 7§7 of the 1961 Charter;
- by 9 votes to 3 that there is a violation of Article 3 of the 1988 Additional Protocol.
Decision on admissibility of the Complaint 111/2014
Decision on the merits of the Complaint 111/2014
Resolution ResChS(2017)9 of the Committee of Ministers on 5 July 2017
Resolution ResChS(2018)12 of the Committee of Ministers on 12 December 2018
Previous national reports by Greece
European Social Charter (revised)
- 6th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2018 - 31/12/2021)
Addendum to the 6th National Report - 5th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2020)
Comments by the Greek General Confederation of Labour - 4th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2019)
- Comments by Amnesty International
- 3rd National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2015 - 31/12/2018)
Comments by Greek National Commission for Human Rights on the 3d report
Comments by Amnesty International on the 3d report
Comments by the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection on the 3d report - 2nd National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2017). Conclusions published in 2019
- 1st National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016). Conclusions published in 2018
1961 European Social Charter
- 27th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2012-31/12/2015). Conclusions published in 2017 - XXI-2
Comments from the Greek national Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR) - 26th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2011-31/12/2014). Conclusions published in 2016 - XXI-1
Comments from European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO-BEOC)
Comments from the Greek national Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR) - 25th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2010 - 31/12/2013). Conclusions published in 2015 - XX-4
- 24th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2009 - 31/12/2012). Conclusions published in 2014 - XX-3
Comments from the Greek National Commission from Human Rights (GNCHR) - 23th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece and 8th report on Additional Protocol (Reference Period: 01/01/2008 - 31/12/2011). Conclusions published in 2013 - XX-2
- 22nd National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece and 4th report on Additional Protocol (Reference Period: 01/01/2007-31/12/2010). Conclusions published in 2012 - XX-1
22nd report, Reply to Art 1§2 - 21st National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2009). Conclusions published in 2011 - XIX-4
Comments from the Greek National Commission for Human Rights
Observations of the Greek Government on the comments from the Greek National Commission for Human Rights - 20th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2008). Conclusions published in 2010 - XlX-3
- 19th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece and 5th report on the Additional Protocol (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2008). Conclusions published in 2009 - XlX-2
19th report add (art 13§4) (Reference Period: 01/01/2003 - 31/12/2007). - 18th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2006). Conclusions published in 2008 - XlX-1
Addendum to 18th report
Additional Protocol, 4th report (Reference Period: 01/01/2003 - 31/12/2006). - 17th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Greece (Reference Period: 01/01/2001 - 31/12/2004). Conclusions XVIII-2
17th report, article 10.4
17th report, reply, article 2.1
Additional Protocol, 3rd report