GSEE demands withdrawal of justice bill provision affecting labor disputes

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) has issued a formal letter to the Prime Minister, political parties, and the Plenum of the Bar Association of Greece, calling for the immediate withdrawal of a specific provision in a draft bill from the Ministry of Justice.

The provision in question, Article 19, paragraph 1, subparagraph b, pertains to labor disputes. GSEE argues that the regulation would mandate a pre-trial mediation session for the party initiating the dispute—which is almost always the employee. Furthermore, the regulation would require that party to fully advance all related costs, including mediator fees and legal representation expenses.

GSEE describes the measure as “manifestly unfair and incomprehensible,” stating that it ignores the inherent inequality between parties in labor disputes and fails to protect the worker as the weaker party. The confederation warns that the financial burden could impede constitutional access to justice and force employees into painful compromises below legal protection limits. They have also called upon the Ministry of Labour to intervene and prevent the Ministry of Justice from legislating on matters of labor law.