The debate on the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s bill entitled “National Social Agreement for the Strengthening of Collective Labour Agreements” will begin tomorrow before the House of Representatives.

The bill incorporates the historic National Social Agreement between the Government and the National Social Partners, signed two months ago.

This is a special bill as, like the National Social Agreement itself, it has been jointly formulated between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and all the National Social Partners (GSEE, SEV, GSEVEE, ESEE, SETE, SBE).

The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Niki Kerameos, said:

“The National Social Agreement opens a new page for collective labour agreements and the Greek labour market in general. Its legislation will create new prospects for workers and businesses as it leads to more and more easily extendable collective agreements. This means higher wages and better working conditions for workers, greater stability for businesses, clear operating rules for the whole labour market. The National Social Agreement is the result of a fruitful dialogue between the Government and all National Social Partners, and we hope that this dialogue will continue in Parliament.”

The bill includes a total of 16 articles and remained in public consultation for two weeks.

Key points of the bill:

1. Easier extension of collective labour agreements (CLAs)

-Reducing the required coverage rate
Currently, an extension of a CBA is only possible if it binds employers who employ more than 50% of the workers in the industry or occupation.
With the National Social Agreement, this percentage is reduced from 50% to 40%.
-A new possibility for the extension of Collective Labour Agreements is created. The quantitative criterion of 40% will not be considered at all when the Collective Agreement is co-signed by National Social Partners.
Possibility for the GSEE to be able to co-sign sectoral CBAs on a subsidiary basis, if invited by a competent primary or secondary union to do so, so that the new possibility of extension can be applied.
-Determination of the scope of the CBA to identify the scope of the extension by referring to the text of the sectoral CBAs of the CBAs and other elements that identify the sector in question.
-Operational Registers of Organizations (GEMESOE and GEMIOE) to identify the coverage rate.
-Reducing the information required for registration to the absolute minimum.
-Definition of the legal consequences of not registering in the Registers – Non-suspension of rights deriving from trade union activity.
-Registration of an organisation is only required for the extension of a collective agreement and for recourse to the O.M.E.D.
-Election documents will be delivered by trade unions to the Court of First Instance instead of the Registry.

2. Full protection of workers after the expiry of Collective Labour Agreements

-All the terms of a CBA that relate to employees continue to apply after its termination.
-Extension for three (3) months in the CBAs.
-After the three-month period, all terms of the CBA remain in force until a new collective or individual employment agreement is concluded (full post-employment)
The memorandum regulation on partial post-employment in force since 2012 is abolished
.
-The pre-memorandum scheme of full post-employment is reinstated
-Protection of newly hired employees – Employees hired during the three-month extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement are also covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement

3. Expedited procedures in case of disagreement between employees and employers

-Mechanism for pre-screening unilateral requests for recourse to Mediation and Arbitration
-Creation and operation of a three-member committee in the O.M.E.D.

-Control strictly and only of the legal requirements for mediation and unilateral recourse.
-Members of the Admissibility Review Committee: one (1) Professor of Labour Law, one (1) Professor of Economics, and one (1) retired judge of a high court
-They will be selected for a term of office by the Board of Directors of O.M.E.D.

Abolition of the second tier of arbitration of the O.M.D. to resolve disputes more quickly, and retain the possibility of a judicial challenge to the arbitration award.