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The Committee notes that at its 268th Session (March 1997), the Governing Body adopted the report of the committee set up to examine the representation made by the Federation of the Associations of Public Servants of the Ministry of Labour of Greece, under article 24 of the Constitution, alleging non-observance by Greece of the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81). The allegations relate to the incorporation of the labour inspectorate into autonomous prefectural administrations and to the consequences this incorporation has had on its operations. In its representation, the complainant Federation stated that since the new system came into force the labour inspectorate has experienced a real decline, as evidenced in particular by the lack of cooperation and coordination between inspection services, a failure to apply labour standards uniformly, the incorporation of the labour inspectorate into other prefectural services by assigning to them other tasks unrelated to their responsibilities, the transfer of competent and experienced inspectors to other services and the assignment to the labour inspectorate of people without experience or training in this area, the absence of guarantees of stability and independence for labour inspectors, and problems of informing workers of collective agreements and occupational relations. The Committee of Experts notes that the committee set up concluded that the organization of the labour inspectorate, as it results from Act No. 2218/1994 contravenes Article 4, paragraph 1, and Articles 6, 19 and 20 of the Convention.

Under the recommendations appearing in the Committee's report, the Government is requested to take the necessary measures to bring its legislation into conformity with the provisions of the Convention, in particular by placing the labour inspectorate under the supervision and control of a central authority. Under the same recommendations, it is also requested to submit, in accordance with article 22 of the Constitution, a report containing detailed information on the measures taken to give effect to the provisions of the Convention.

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in September 1997, according to which a committee has been set up with a view to preparing a Bill for the reorganization and reintegration of the labour inspection services into the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The committee comprises three directors-general of the Ministry, the heads of the labour inspectorate and of administrative organization, a civil servant from the Directorate for Working Conditions, and the President of the Federation of the Associations of Public Servants of the Ministry of Labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the progress of the Committee's work and on that made in the application of the Convention.