Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 (No. 14) - Greece (Ratification: 1929)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on working time, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 1 (hours of work), 14 and 106 (weekly rest) together.

The Committee notes the observations of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE), received on 29 August 2024.

Hours of work

Article 8(1)(c) of Convention No. 1. Record of additional hours. The Committee notes that in its observations, the GSEE indicates that the implementation of the recently introduced ERGANI II Information System on digital organization of working time has caused confusion and led to abusive practices. The Committee requests the Government to provide information regarding the application in practice of the digital organization of working time and, in particular, whether abuses have occurred or can be detected.

Weekly rest

Article 2(1), (2) and (3) of Convention No. 14 and Article 6(1), (2) and (3) of Convention No. 106. Right to weekly rest. Uniformity of weekly rest. Respect of traditions and customs. The Committee notes that sections 210 and 211 of the Code of Labour Law that codify previous applicable legislation pertaining to exceptions to the provisions on rest on Sundays and public holidays, currently include a long list of sectors for which exceptions are allowed. In its observations, the GSEE indicates that the exceptions allowing work on Sundays and public holidays have been recently expanded. The Committee recalls that the principle of uniformity enshrined in Article 2(2) of Convention No. 14 and Article 6(2) of Convention No. 106 refers to the collective character of weekly rest with a view to ensuring, wherever possible, that it is taken at the same time by all workers on the day established by tradition or custom. The social purpose of this principle is to enable workers to take part in community life and in the special forms of recreation available on certain days (2018 General Survey on working-time instruments, para. 202). The Committee requests the Government to indicate the manner in which it is ensured that weekly rest is, whenever possible, granted simultaneously to the whole of the staff of each undertaking and so as to coincide with the days already established by the traditions or customs of the country or district, as required in Article 2(2) and (3) of Convention No. 14 and Article 6(2) and (3) of Convention No. 106.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Article 2 of the Convention. Weekly rest entitlement. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to Presidential Decree No. 88/1999 on minimal requirements for the organization of working time in compliance with Directive No. 93/104/EC, which provides for 36 consecutive hours of rest, including in principle Sunday, in every seven-day period. It also notes that the Decree excludes from its scope of application air, rail, road and inland waterway transport. While noting that the European Commission has recently initiated proceedings against Greece for failure to comply with European social legislation relating to road transport activities (including rules on driving time, rest periods and enforcement measures), the Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information, including copies of all relevant laws, regulations or collective agreements which may not have been previously communicated, on the application of the Convention in the transport and port industry.

Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the inspection results concerning weekly rest in various branches of industrial manufacture, construction and transport for the period 2002–08. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply general information on the application of the Convention in practice, including for instance statistics on the number of workers covered by the relevant legislation, extracts from reports of the labour inspection services showing the number of violations observed and sanctions imposed, copies of relevant collective agreements, etc.