Measures to eliminate discrimination against women are being called for by the GSEE in view of International Women’s Day (8 March), ringing a bell for a series of facts concerning our country.

“The word woman is identical in practice with the word battle, everyday, unmeasurable in many of its aspects, but precious, but visible and magnificent in its results, on the front line for equality, dignity and justice in every aspect of life,” the Confederation said in a statement.

GSEE and the Confederation’s Secretariat for Equality and Individual – Social Rights, in its video message, stresses “the change we must achieve by believing in our strength, in the collective fight against discrimination against women, against gender inequality and in any form, to the detriment of human dignity and dignity” which – as it notes – “places Greece in the last positions (25th) in Europe in terms of the overall percentage of the equality index (59.3%).

This, as the Confederation points out, “because policies that maintain or favour discrimination against women in key areas such as health, work, economic status, education, time, participation in public life and decision-making are maintained, gender-based violence and harassment, multiple discrimination, obstacles to access to the authorities, but also the fear of reprisals and lack of trust in the event of a complaint, which is, however, the underlying cause of the increase in the number of femicides. This is a major issue that the State must look into the eyes of the people, speak its name and take all necessary measures.”

Moreover, according to the GSEE, “unfortunately, the institutional obstruction of trade unions’ participation in the evaluation and formulation of policies for equality at work is maintained, as the functioning of the stable structures of institutional social dialogue at the Ministry of Labour has been interrupted, which would have highlighted not only the need for transparency in terms of the effectiveness of policies to promote gender equality and the control of their implementation, but also the obligation of their coherence, due to the fragmentation of the competence for gender equality.”

“The GSEE’s data from the action of our force members nationwide, Labour Centres, Federations, primary unions is deafening as to the struggle of women for economic and social survival, what is behind the lights of publicity, social events, epics, corporate awards and multi-page reports on the progress of legislation in our country, where the black hole of everyday working life lies. These data were made public by the GSEE in December 2024 with the first study on sexual harassment at work in Greece following the ratification in 2021 of the International Labour Convention 190”, the statement added.

The GSEE stresses that “equality in life, education, health and work is neither a privilege nor a benefit of the state or employers to women, but a fundamental right inextricably linked to respect for human dignity”. That is why our message for Women’s Day remains constant:

As stated, the GSEE stands by women every day:

With the Secretariat for Equality and Individual – Social Rights. Possibility of daily information on appeals to the authorities with complaints of discrimination, violence, and harassment at work at [email protected]

With the Information Centre for Workers and the Unemployed of the GSEE www.kepea.gr

With the Network of Information & Counselling Services for Employees and the Unemployed of the Labour Institute of the GSEE https://www.inegsee.gr/diktio-ipiresion-pliroforisis-simvouleftikis-ergazomenon-anergon/).

“Saturday, 8 March 2025

We participate and invite to the nationwide events of Women’s Organizations, Labor Centers and Federations for Women’s Day,” the statement concludes.