Christos A. Ioannou, Why Is Modern Work Organisation Lacking From Southern Europe Public Policies: The Case Of Greece, Ijclir Vol 22 1 2006, Abstract

International Journal of Comparative Labour Law & Industrial Relations

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SPRING 2006

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CHRISTOS A. IOANNOU*

Why is Modern Work Organisation Lacking from Southern European Public Policies? The Case of Greece

Abstract: This paper examines the effectiveness of “top-down” EU policies and processes with regard to new forms of work organisation in Greece. It argues that, at the EU level, work organisation has lacked a stable policy framework and work organisation has been a contested terrain. On national policy-making and implementation the analysis of the European Employment Strategy (EES), the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) in relation to the Greek National Action Plans (NAPs), and the weak coordination of the EES and the European Social Fund, explains why work organisation issues continue to be neglected. The reciprocal influence of the national social partners in work organisation in Greece is also considered. In spite of the supposed benefits arising from new forms of work organisation, and successive national legislation initiatives, traditional work organisation persists. In the context of weak and conflicting interaction between the EU and national policymakers and the social partners, modern work organisation continues to be lacking from convergence policies in Greece.

1. INTRODUCTION New forms of work organisation are considered to be positively related to higher productivity, competitiveness and employment growth. A recent report on national programmes supporting new forms of work organisation1 argued that there is a divide between northern and southern Europe,

* 1

Doctor, Organisation for Mediation and Arbitration (OMED), and Centre for Industrial Relations and Negotiation (CIRN), Athens University of Economics and Business. P. Brödner, & E. Latniak, ‘Sources of Innovation and Competitiveness: National Programmes Supporting the Development of Work Organisation’, Report to DG Employment and Social Affairs, Institute for Work and Technology, Gelsenkirchen, 2002.

The International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations, Volume 22/1, 19-37, 2006. © Kluwer Law International. Printed in the Netherlands.

THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE LABOUR LAW AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS