Question by Andrej Hunko, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Europe:
Greece adopted two measures foreseen in the first “Memorandum of Understanding” with the EU-Troika: The probation period, in which the employee can be dismissed without notice, was extended to one year, and the minimum wage was lower by a third for people under 25. Both measures were judged illegal by the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR).
Has the committee of ministers already issued a recommendation requesting Greece to end the situation of non-conformity with the European Social Charta (ESC) regarding the decision of the ECSR on the Collective Complaints No. 65/2011 and No. 66/2011?
If no, were any measures adopted in Greece to end the non-conformity with the ESC after the decision of the ECSR, and why has no recommendation been decided, although the replies by Greece to the ECSR-conclusion give no reason to assume any intention to end the breaches of the ESC, given the “political and economic constraints” of the memorandum of understanding with the EU-Troika.
Reply of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe:
(Adopted on 10 April 2013 at the 1168th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
1. The Committee of Ministers informs the Honourable Parliamentarian that the conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) concerning Collective Complaints No. 65/2011 and 66/2011 were considered at the meetings of the Rapporteur Group of the Committee of Ministers on Social and Health Questions (GR-SOC) on 25 October 2012 and 15 January 2013.
2. During the discussions, Greece had the opportunity to present its views about these collective complaints. In this respect, Greece emphasised the temporary nature of the measures in question.
3. The Committee of Ministers has subsequently adopted Resolutions CM/ResChS(2013)2 and CM/ResChS(2013)3 in the exercise of the functions conferred upon it by Article 9 of the Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter.
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