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

Abstract

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.