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Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure GR-2021-11/1829 Updated – measures in Greece

Free COVID-19 rapid tests in businesses with a staff of more than 20 employees

Δωρεάν διενέργεια rapid tests στις επιχειρήσεις με προσωπικό άνω των 20 ατόμω

Country Greece , applies nationwide
Time period Open ended, started on 11 March 2021
Context COVID-19
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
– Occupational health and safety
Author Penny Georgiadou (INEGSEE)
Measure added 08 April 2021 (updated 13 May 2021)

Background information

The Greek government, as part of the restriction of the dispersion of the coronavirus, covers the cost of conducting rapid tests on companies with more than 20 employees. The programme is implemented by the Ministries of Labour and Digital Governance, in cooperation with the National Public Health Organisation (EODY). Employees in companies with over 20 employees will be able to apply for a rapid test up to 2 times a month through a special platform. The aim is to intensify testing in enterprises where the number of employees causes staff crowding and thus increases the risk of transmission. The measure follows on from other initiatives to limit the dispersion of coronavirus, such as compulsory teleworking (where it can be provided), special-purpose leaves and the intensification of inspections on companies to comply with health protocols by the Labour Inspectorate (SEPE).

Content of measure

According to the Ministry of Labour, from 11 March 2021, the planned procedure for participation in the testing programme is as follows:

Employees complete the "Application Form for free testing of COVID-19" entering to the Digital Platform “ergasia.testing.gov.gr.”

The platform carries out a verification check to confirm that they are employees of a company with more than 20 employees, through an interface with the electronic system of the Ministry of Labour "ERGANI".

After the successful verification, employees can complete the required information as well as the testing centre they choose for the examination.

The selection of employees is always made according to the available tests. Once the employee is selected for free test, he receives an SMS with the date/time and address of the testing center. On the day of the examination the worker presents the SMS to the health staff for priority examination. The SMS is used as a moving permission for the examination and the employee takes a 3 hours justified leave of absence in order to make the test.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

13 May 2021

Please change the status from temporary to open ended. The measure is in effect, and its expiration date is still unknown

Use of measure

According to the Ministry of Labour with the new measure is expected to increase significantly the number of tests made by the Public Health System, which at the day of the announcement of the measure were approximately 45,000 daily. In total the testing centres participating in the programme are 386 across the country.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Employees in standard employment
Applies to all businesses Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Company / Companies
National funds

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: N/A

Involvement

There is no involvement of social partners.

Views and reactions

There are no social partner's reactions to the measure.

Sources

  • 11 March 2021: In full operation the special platform for applications at ergasia.testing.gov.gr (Σε πλήρη λειτουργία η ειδική πλατφόρμα για τις αιτήσεις στη διεύθυνση ergasia.testing.gov.gr (ypergasias.gov.gr)

Citation

Eurofound (2021), Free COVID-19 rapid tests in businesses with a staff of more than 20 employees, measure GR-2021-11/1829 (measures in Greece), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/GR-2021-11_1829.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.