Assessement report on necessary amendments of the legal framework regarding inspections in agriculture and Recommendations for reforms in line with ILO Convention No129. Acknowledgements This report was prepared by M. Pablo Paramo, international consultant of the ILO, under the technical supervision of M. Javier Barbero, from the ILO. Valuable inputs and suggestions were provided by Ms. Athina Malagardi, National Programme Officer. A special thanks to the SEPE staff and his Executive Secretary, M. Panos Korfiatis, for the support and the information provided to develop this report. Assessment report on necessary amendments of the legal framework regarding inspections in agriculture and recommendations for reforms in line with ILO Convention No.129 INDEX 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 8 Research methodology ............................................................................................. 9 1. 1. Background and contextual information. ........................................................ 9 1.1.1 Agriculture in Greece .......................................................................................... 9 1.1.2 Labour inspection approach ............................................................................ 12 1.2. Legal and administrative framework, including Labour Inspection and other relevant ILO Conventions. ......................................................................................... 12 1.2.1 National legislation ........................................................................................... 12 1.2.2 ILO international standards .............................................................................. 17 1.2.3 Institutional framework ..................................................................................... 20 2. Analysis of the national situation in law and practice with regard to Convention No. 129. ........................................................................................................................ 21 2.1 Scope and coverage of labour inspection in agriculture (arts 3, 4 and 5 of Convention No. 129 .................................................................................................... 21 2.2 Mandate and functions of labour inspection in agriculture. ......................... 23 2.2.1 General functions ............................................................................................. 23 2.2.2 Gaps in relation to functions of labour inspection in the area of undeclared work . 24 2.2.3 Other functions that might impair labour inspection primary duties ................. 27 2.3 Structure of the labour inspection system. .................................................... 29 2.4. Labour inspection staff: composition, status, conditions of service, and standards of conduct. ................................................................................................ 31 2.4.1 Composition of labour inspection staff, status and conditions of service ......... 32 2.4.2 Standards of conduct of labour inspectors. ..................................................... 34 2.4.3 Qualifications of labour inspectors and initial training ...................................... 35 2.4.4 Regular training ............................................................................................... 35 2.4.5 Number of inspectors ....................................................................................... 37 2.4.6 Regional services and local offices .................................................................. 38 2.4.7 Other material resources ................................................................................. 39 2.4.8 Incentives to labour inspectors and other actions to promote labour inspection ...................................................................................................................................... 40 2.4.9 Other material resources: IT infrastructure ...................................................... 40 2.5 Resources of the legal inspection; availability of data in the agriculture sector. ............................................................................................................................................ 41 2.5.1 Resources of the legal inspection. ................................................................... 42 2.5.2 Private home of the employer .......................................................................... 42 2 Assessment report on necessary amendments of the legal framework regarding inspections in agriculture and recommendations for reforms in line with ILO Convention No.129 2.5.3 Notification of the inspector´s presence in the workplace to workers´ representatives ............................................................................................................. 43 2.5.4 Availability of data in the agriculture sector ..................................................... 43 2.6 Prosecution and penalties for violations of legislation ................................ 44 2.6.1 Legal context (articles 23 and on of Act No. 3996/2011) ................................. 45 2.6.2 Sufficiency of enforcement powers .................................................................. 48 2.7 Preventive functions of labour inspection. .................................................... 48 2.7.1 Legal context ................................................................................................... 48 2.7.2 Preventive actions in practice .......................................................................... 50 2.8. Reports on the work of the labour inspectorate. .......................................... 51 2.8.1 Types of reports ............................................................................................... 51 2.8.2 Reporting and role of labour inspection in relation to accidents at work and occupational diseases. ............................................................................................. 52 2.9 Assistance and administrative support .......................................................... 54 2.10 Guidance and orientation ............................................................................... 54 2.11 Collaboration with other stakeholders ......................................................... 56 2.11.1 Institutional cooperation. ................................................................................ 56 2.11.2 Collaboration with social partners (art.17 Law NO. 3996/2011) .................... 57 2.11.3 Other institutions ............................................................................................ 57 3. Findings: gaps to effectively extend labour inspection to all agricultural undertakings and groups of workers. ...................................................................... 59 3.1 Assessment of legislation in force: no major obstacles to ratify Convention No. 129 59 3.2 Structure of SEPE, staff and number of inspectors. ........................................... 59 3.3 Material resources. ............................................................................................. 60 3.4 Conciliation and other functions .......................................................................... 61 3.5 Training ............................................................................................................... 61 3.6 Planning of inspection activity ............................................................................. 61 3.7 Safety of labour inspectors ................................................................................. 62 3.8 Gaps associated to undeclared work and irregular situation of migrant workers 62 3.9 Gaps associated with social insurance in the agriculture sector. ....................... 63 3.10 Clarity and transparency of the law .................................................................. 64 3.11 Collaboration with other institutions and stakeholders ...................................... 64 3.12 Information on accidents at work and occupational diseases. .......................... 65 3.13 Perception of the social partners ...................................................................... 66 4. Recommendations ................................................................................................. 67 3 Assessment report on necessary amendments of the legal framework regarding inspections in agriculture and recommendations for reforms in line with ILO Convention No.129 4.1 Assessment of legislation in force: scope and approach of labour inspection action in agriculture ................................................................................................................. 67 4.2 Structure of SEPE, staff, number of inspectors and number of inspections ....... 67 4.3 Material resources and transport facilities .......................................................... 70 4.4 IT integrated information system ........................................................................ 70 4.5 Conciliation and other functions; downsizing of non-traditional functions ........... 71 4.6 Training, guidance and technical assistance to labour inspector ....................... 72 4.7 Planning of inspection activity and awareness campaigns. ................................ 72 4.8 Planning of inspection and IT system ................................................................. 73 4.9 Gaps