Background information

OTE Group is the largest provider of telephone and digital services in Greece with 13,000 employees. The COVID-19 pandemic changed everyone's daily life. The lockdown in the economy and the restrictive measures on the movement of citizens, resulted in new circumstances as regards the function of businesses and the provision of work.

In this context, OTE Group and COSMOTE MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS S.A. in order to meet the needs of the economy and of the citizens, invested more than €12 million, for developing initiatives and actions based on eight pillars: Communication, Entertainment, Employment, Health, Education, The State, Supporting vulnerable groups and Supporting its’ own Employees.

These initiatives, in their greater part, refer to additional free digital services and facilities to its customers and citizens.

Content of measure

COSMOTE has implemented a number of actions in the context of COVID-19 pandemic such as :

• Free unlimited calls, of all providers, throughout the 2019 Easter season.
• Free provision of documentary films and programmes by its specialised channel “COSMOTE History” for all, via Cosmote TV platform in youtube and further free offers for it’s blockbuster programme and kids programme.
• Provision of 15 free GB to all professionals customers for one month.
• For SMEs operating remotely, three months of Microsoft Office 365.
• Business Premium free of charge, so that employees can continue their activities, from home.
• Free text messages for three months to the Emergency Aid Centre, for the collection of the data from the pandemic cases.
• The free provision, of a 5-digit Psychological Support line (10306) for the citizens.
• Free access from mobile networks, to the digital platforms used by the Ministry of Education for distance learning at schools.
• Supporting the Remote work for 10,000 Civil Servants for a three-month period.
• Provided free COSMOTE TV to 4 ‘Smile of the Child’ homes.
• Specific and additional measures in order to ensure the health and safety of its employees.

Use of measure

The OTE Group developed actions during the pandemic, "investing" more than €12 million. According to Cosmote, the company's response and it's impact to society, was highly evaluated by the public, in special consumer surveys.

In the Cosmote 13,000 employees are working from home and 3,000 more are on the frontlines to provide services to their consumers every day.

Contents

• Health and safety
• Telework
• Training and employability
• Work organisation

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Applies to all businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Company / Companies	Companies

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

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

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Company level

Involvement

There is no involvement of social partners.

Views and reactions

The measures are regarded as positive for the business and the citizens during the pandemic.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 05 February 2021: Actions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (COSMOTE - Δράσεις στα πλαίσια της πανδημίας COVID-19 (www.cosmote.gr)