Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Greece)

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Greek: Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης) is a government department of Greece. The Ministry is responsible for the labour market, employment, and social security.

Its current name was given in June 2023 when the second government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis renamed the "Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs" to the "Ministry of Labour and Social Security".

The incumbent minister is Niki Kerameus.

History

The Ministry of Labour was first established in October 1935 by the Kondylis government, following the urging of Georgios Kartalis, who also served as its first Minister.

After one year, in January 1936, the new Demertzis government abolished the ministry.

Following the coup of August 4, 1936, by Ioannis Metaxas, the "Deputy ministry of Labour" was established, under the "Ministry of National Economy", with the responsibility "...to systematically ensure harmonious cooperation between labour and capital, to promote the National Economy and the moral and material upliftment of the working classes."

In November 1936, it was upgraded to an independent Deputy Ministry. Aristeidis Dimitratos, former General Secretary of the GSEE (General Confederation of Greek Workers), who, as a repentant communist, joined the conservative faction during this period, served as Deputy Minister. During his tenure as minister, state control over the labor market was strengthened, many professions were declared "closed" and "protected," and businesses were prohibited from dismissing employees without government approval. At the same time, a minimum daily wage was established, regardless of the days worked, industry-wide labor contracts were systematized, the eight-hour workday was further implemented, and labor legislation was more formally enforced.