Retaliatory dismissals of employees and their representatives by Casino Thraki

Question for written answer E-002023/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Maria Zacharia (NI)

Since the start of 2024, Casino Thraki has been turning against its employees in an attempt to impede them from taking trade union action. This is because they reported the casino to the Hellenic Gaming Commission stating that they had been uninsured since 2023 despite having worked as normal, an offence that is punishable by law with the revocation of the business' licence for a period of two months. However, the law was not enforced.

Since the start of 2024, in an act of intimidation and retaliation, the casino has fired 27 employees, among them six of the seven members of the trade union's executive committee, including the president and the general secretary. The individuals who were dismissed cannot even claim unemployment benefits because they are not insured. The following are being violated: Directives 2002/14/EC (framework for informing and consulting employees), 98/59/EC (collective redundancies) and 2000/78/EC (equal treatment in occupation); Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (freedom of assembly and association); Article 28 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (right to strike); and Convention 135 of the International Labour Organisation (protection afforded to workers' representatives).

In view of this:

• 1.How will the Commission ensure that Greece abides by EU and international regulations so that the dismissals can be revoked and the relevant national insurance contributions paid in full?
• 2.How will it protect Europe's workers from dishonest employers?

Submitted: 11.10.2024