(2004/C 33 E/260)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2326/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 July 2003)

Subject:   Discrimination between workers and employees as regards compensation for dismissal

Greek labour legislation does not consider that intellectual and manual workers merit the same degree of protection in the event of redundancy, which is why, when workers are dismissed, they receive proportionally far less compensation than employees. Trade union organisations have called for compensation for these two categories to be standardised, not only for obvious reasons of equal treatment, but also because the very small amount of compensation given to workers constitutes an incentive for dismissing them.

Can the Commission provide information on arrangements in the other Member States? What measures does it intend to take to promote the standardisation of compensation at European level?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 August 2003)

In 1997 the Commission published a report on the legal situation concerning ‘Termination of employment relationships’ in the Member States. The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's secretariat a copy of this report.

In the European Social Policy Agenda approved by the Nice European Council's meeting in December 2000, the Commission is requested to organise an exchange of views on individual dismissal by the year 2004.

In June 2003 the Commission launched a series of studies in order to ascertain the current position in the Member States. Once these have been finalised it is planned to publish an updated report in 2004. The Commission would then consider what future measures need to be taken.