Controversy over employment of people with special needs

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Over the last few months, new developments in the area of recruiting people with special needs have been set in motion in Greece. A government bill on the issue is expected by the end of 1997.

The first meeting of the social partners on measures to protect and increase employment of vulnerable social groups was held in late September 1997 in the context of the social dialogue process (GR9707120F).

Recruitment procedures for people with special needs is one of the topics which has been occupying the committees of experts in the social dialogue process. Following statements issued by the Minister of Labour, it is apparent that the Government intends to revise existing procedures - specifically by amending Law 1648/1986 on employment of people with special needs and people with more than three children. Law 1648/1986 protects vocationally employable individuals between the ages of 15 and 65 suffering from any chronic physical or mental illness or impairment, provided that they are registered as unemployed and disabled with the Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED).

Up to now, those eligible could lodge the necessary supporting documentation with the OAED at any time, and the OAED would start hiring procedures with an enterprise. According to the Government, the new law aims at dealing with the problem of false certificates of disablement by checking supporting documents and having the individuals concerned examined by medical committees. It also aims at meeting the needs of the labour market, as it provides for hiring on a "points" system. Evaluation based on a points system will take into account the marital status, financial situation and skills of eligible people, as well as their degree of disablement in the case of those with special needs. Hiring will then itself be carried out through an annual selection procedure.

The point at issue with regard to revision of the current law, which has also created conflict between the social partners, concerns the provision in Law 1648/1986 which obliges enterprises employing more than 50 people to hire an 8% quota of people in certain special categories.

In particular, the comments and proposals of the Federation of Greek Industries (SEV) have provoked keen controversy. SEV proposes reducing the quota from 8% to between 4% and 6%, and enabling enterprises to select from a list of candidates who have previously participated in vocational training programmes. SEV maintains that many people hired on the basis of the existing system are unable to make an effective contribution since they lack the necessary training, and stresses that trained individuals can demand better conditions.

SEV's proposal to lower the 8% hiring quota has provoked a strong reaction from the trade unions, although they have not yet made any relevant counterstatements. From the government side, experts from the Ministry of Labour take a positive view of training with the OAED; however, for the time being it seems that the request of enterprises to lower the set quota will not be met. Nevertheless, the Government will make its final proposals in mid-autumn, at which time the relevant bill is expected to be presented in Parliament.