ABSTRACT

Introduction On 22 November 2011, the International Labour Organization (ILO) published the Report of a High Level Mission to Athens (International Labour Offi ce 2011). This followed a reference to the ILO’s Committee of Experts in 2011 by the Greek Confederation of Trade Unions (GSEE) about the austerity measures introduced in response to the fi nancial crisis that had gripped their nation (ibid.). These measures were taken following the decision of the Heads of State and Government of the Euro Area to offer support for the Greek economy. In order to activate that support, the Greek Ministry of Finance agreed a package with the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (the Troika), in the course of which the Greek government undertook not only to reduce public sector pay, but also to reform the legal framework for wage bargaining in the private sector. This would be in addition to minimum entry level wages, a new control system for undeclared work, the extension of probationary periods, the increase in the use of part-time work, and the ‘recalibration’ ( sic ) of rules governing collective dismissals.