Background information

On March 6,2020, the peak organisations of the Employers' (SEV, GSEVEE, ESEE, SETE) made a joint statement on the need to support enterprises and workers. In their statement, they argue that in view of the developments of the COVID-19 crisis and within the framework of their institutional role as social partners and having social responsibility, called the employers and the companies to act proactively, collectively, organized and quickly, in order to contribute, to the maximum possible level, to limiting the spread of the virus, while protecting the health of all workers and the jobs themselves.

Content of measure

The statement of the national employers' organisations (SEV, GSEVEE, ESEE, SETE) is addressed to all companies throughout Greece and includes recommendations and instructions in order to mitigate the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis.

In this context, they urge the companies to strictly adhere to the health and safety rules at the workplaces and in accordance with the guidelines issued by the National Public Health Organisation.

They encourage businesses to adopt voluntary preventive measures to limit the spread of the virus in the workplace and to protect workers' health in accordance with the guidelines of the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention .

They recommend that undertakings should include both the facilitation of workers and the smooth functioning of undertakings to the fullest extent possible: the adoption of flexible practices in terms of time and place of work, as well as facilitation of leaves, if there are exceptional family obligations from any closure of kindergartens, schools, etc.

Finally, they stress that they are at the disposal of the entire business community and the competent authorities in order to assist, in any way deemed appropriate, for the protection of the health of workers and the preservation coherence within the Greek economy.

Use of measure

The joint statement from the employers' social partner organisations represents all economic sectors and businesses irrespectively of size and therefore is quite a significant one. On the basis of the legislative initiatives taken by the government to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, this statement acted as a recommendation to their members to fully support and implement the measures taken by the government.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Company / Companies	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Not applicable	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only employers' organisations
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

This initiative from employers' organisations includes recommendations to their members for the adoption of measures and practices managing the pandemic crisis.

Views and reactions

The companies generally agree with the context of the statement.

Sources

• 09 March 2020: Ανακοίνωση ΣΕΒ, ΓΣΕΒΕΕ, ΕΣΕΕ, ΣΕΤΕ για τον κορονοϊό COVID- (www.gsevee.gr)