2024-03-18 21:38:27
The most reported incidents of violence and harassment come from retail and wholesale trade (21%), hotels (12%) and catering (7%), as the specific characteristics of each sector influence and influence abusive behavior of all kinds, according to with the annual report of the relevant department of the Labor Inspectorate.
For another year (2023), the great majority (95%) of the complaints refer to incidents of violence (verbal, physical and psychological) and only 5% to sexual harassment, underlining the long-term trend of reporting these, due to the specificity and difficulty as to their proof.
Regarding the gender of the workers affected, out of all the complaints for 2023, 180 were women (60%) and 120 were men (40%), which confirms that the position of women in the labor market remains more vulnerable and weaker than that of men.
Regarding the status of the person complained of, it is found that in 105 (46%) of the 230 cases the matter is related to violence and harassment caused by the employer himself or the legal representative of the company and in the remaining 125 cases (54%) the person complained is someone else employee (supervisor, shift manager, etc.) or another person (Board member, relative employer, etc.).
Of the total complaints for 2023, 180 were women (60%) and 120 were men (40%)
12% of reported incidents come from the hotel industry
Georgia Vazaki, head of the independent department of the Labor Inspectorate for the monitoring of violence and harassment at work, points out the following: “The increased rate of out-of-court resolution of these particularly inconspicuous and difficult to prove cases reflects for another year the special zeal and interest shown by the Labor Relations Inspectors, who effectively utilize the whole of the current institutional framework. Our primary concern is to make it clear to the entire working world that the current framework should be used as an excellent opportunity to change the work culture, with the demonstration of zero tolerance for violence and harassment, which will give a wider social sign to ensuring a healthy and safe working environment for the benefit of workers, employees, employers and the whole society”.
In more detail, as stated in the relevant announcement, in a total of 230 complaints:
– 73 cases were resolved out of court, with appropriate and appropriate measures being taken by the complained enterprise and the formulation of relevant recommendations.
– 12 cases were aborted either due to non-appearance of the complainant during the scheduled discussion or due to a written relevant statement by the latter or because, during the discussion, specific incidents of violence and harassment were not further analyzed so that they could be subject to the special procedure of the article 18 of Law 4808/2021.
– In 105 cases, the Labor Relations Inspector conducting the procedure has recorded a reasoned recommendation to appeal to the competent courts, due to conflicting claims on disputed factual and legal issues, which require judicial assessment.
– In 25 cases, based on the applicable regulatory framework, relevant sanctions totaling 106,500 euros were imposed.
– Another 15 cases are ongoing.
“Furthermore, the increasing trend in the submission of labor regulations by companies subject to this, with integrated policies to prevent and combat violence and harassment, demonstrates the shift of the work culture towards the intended demonstration of zero tolerance in such incidents” notes the Labor Inspectorate.
source: APE-MPE