Soumeli, Eva

As Greece endured a heatwave during August 1999, the GSEE trade union confederation issued guidance on the measures which must be taken to combat heat exhaustion among workers, while the construction workers' union issued its own special recommendations.

In July 1999, the Greek government issued a Presidential Decree aimed at bringing Greek law fully into line with EU law regarding the protection of employees in the event of the employer's insolvency.

In June 1999, the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) expressed its total opposition to proposals from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reduce the wages of new entrants to the labour market and to cut labour costs.

In June 1999, the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) and the Confederation of Public Servants (ADEDY) officially adopted a position in favour of applying a "Tobin tax" to short-term capital movements.

As is the case every year on the same date, the hourly rate of France's statutory minimum wage (SMIC) was increased on 1 July 1999. In light of the move to the statutory 35-hour working week on 1 January 2000, the government deviated from its practice of announcing a greater increase in the SMIC than that provided for by the legislation. The creation of of a wage supplement for those employees who have moved to the 35-hour week means that there will be two parallel monthly SMIC rates for some time.

A bill submitted by the Greek government in June 1999 will place further restrictions on collective redundancies by enterprises in the private sector, in line with Community law.

Following the publication of statistics indicating a sharp rise in unemployment in Greece, and government analyses of the connection between unemployment and the increased presence of immigrants, the GSEE trade union confederation has reiterated its positions on addressing rising unemployment and on dealing with economic immigrants.

Temporary employment is increasing significantly in Greece, and now constitutes the basic form of employment for many workers, according to data published in June 1999 by the Institute of Labour of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (INE/GSEE).

In May 1999, in response to a request from the Greek government, representatives of trade unions and employers' organisations lodged their proposals for the 1999 National Action Plan (NAP) on employment to implement the EU Employment Guidelines. Here we focus on the proposals aimed at encouraging the adaptability of businesses and their employees.

On 10 June 1999, a new enterprise-level collective agreement was signed for workers at the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE). The deal provides for a new pay scale and new staff regulations, as well as the pilot implementation of a 35-hour working week without loss of pay.