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Labour Inspectorate reports on work in 2003Download article in original language : GR0411104FEL.DOC

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In October 2004, Greece's Corps of Labour Inspectors (SEPE) issued its annual report for 2003. Key findings include evidence of an increasing trend towards flexibility at work and a significant increase in accidents at work, especially in particular sectors and occupational categories.

According to the relevant legislative framework (Law 2639/98 on 'regulation of labour relations, establishment of a Corps of Labour Inspectors and other provisions'), the main mission of the Corps of Labour Inspectors (SEPE) is to enforce the provisions of labour legislation, safeguard industrial peace and keep citizens (both workers and employers) up to date on their rights and obligations, and the hazards they are exposed to in the workplace (GR0102100F).

Apart from its auxiliary administrative and legal departments, SEPE is divided into two basic sections with clearly defined scopes and competencies, -------------the Social Labour Inspectorate----------- and the Technical/Sanitary Labour Inspectorate. The principal role of the Social Labour Inspectorate staff is to carry out inspections regarding enforcement of the general protective labour legislation, workers’ social insurance coverage and the legality of their employment, as well as providing counselling, instructions and suggestions to workers and employers on the effective application of the existing provisions. The basic tasks of the Technical and Sanitary Labour Inspectorate include inspections regarding the enforcement of the legislation on workers’ health and safety, the causes of serious and fatal accidents at work, the nature and causes of occupational illnesses, making suggestions for actions to safeguard workers’ health and safety, and providing advice, instructions and suggestions to workers and employers on these matters.

The SEPE’s annual progress report constitutes a useful tool for recording the main trends in labour relations and employment matters in the Greek labour market. At the same time, it indicates the extent to which employers have complied with the current statutory provisions. The report on 2003 was published in October 2004, and represents SEPE’s third successive attempt to summarise the most significant findings of the inspections carried out by labour inspectors. As with previous reports (GR0309105F), the 2003 report is made up of individual sections on SEPE and its plans for action in the coming period, as well as the results of the on-site visits to companies carried out by the Social Labour Inspectorate and the Technical/Sanitary Labour Inspectorate.