Organization for Youth Education & Development (OYED)

Laws Concerning Youth in Greece

Laws Concerning Youth in Greece

In Greece, youth policy is considered “cross-sectoral” with youth affairs legislated across various ministries and incorporating national, European and international policies. The Greek Constitution, Article 16, stipulates the role of the State in the intellectual, professional, ethical and physical development of young persons. It also sets as an aim their transformation into “free and responsible citizens”. In the 1982 the General Secretariat for Youth was set up as a governmental institution with the primary task of shaping, monitoring and coordinating the government policy for youth and its connection with society and social entities. It implements programmes and projects such as the Youth Entrepreneurship Support Structures and the Youth Entrepreneurship Observatory aiming at encouraging and primarily supporting young entrepreneurs, informing them on the existing young entrepreneurs’ possibilities and the realisation of programmes or courses concerning Entrepreneurship.

However, since the beginning of the economic crisis in 2007 the Greece Parliament passed numerous laws covering youth issues such as education, employment, sports, family, rights, health, social protections, and local youth councils. The General Secretariat for Youth, which has responsibility for youth affairs, focuses on three main policy areas: 1) unemployment, employment and labour relationships; 2) social exclusion, social inclusion, youth rights and participation; 3) environment, climate change and green development.

2011

  • Nomos N. 3986/2011 “Term employment contracts for young people, aged 18 up to 25, for working experience”,
    1 July 2011 
    This Law disciplines the employments contracts for young people. According to Article 43 of this law young people aged 18 to 25 years old have the opportunity to sign in employment contracts with employers for work experience up to 24 months and salary up to 20% less than planned for new recruits without experience.

2010

  • Nomos N. 2672/2009 on Entrepreneurship Support Structures, 21 September 2010
    This Law contains a series of legislative provisions for professional development and young entrepreneurs. In particular it establishes measure for the upgrading of Youth Entrepreneurship Support Structures and the strengthening of youth entrepreneurship.
  • Nomos N. 3852/2010, “New Architecture of Local Government and Decentralised Authorities - Program Kallikratis”, 7 July 2010
    The Kallikratis plan, entered into force in the January 2011, drastically overhauled the administrative system of Greece and introduced issues which are related to Youth. This Law establishes young people participation in local authorities by the age of 18, not only with the right to vote but also with the right to be voted in the elections for the municipal and region counsellors.

2009

  • Nomos N. 3748/2009 on “Performance Incentives”, 29 February 2009
    This Law regulates the structure and function of the educational system including the participation of students in the governing bodies of state Universities in order to promote their involvement in the scholastic and academic environment. Besides, it establishes special measures for young athletes with outstanding performance, such as easier entrance to state Universities.
  • Joint Ministerial Decision, N. 27620/894(2)/2009 for “Young people & Entrepreneurship”, September 2009

    This Decision establishes a new program, named “Program 3000: Young Entrepreneurship” directed to young people aged 22-32 years. It states that the Ministries involved in youth issues cooperate in order to promote projects and initiatives on the professional development of young people.

2006

  • Nomos N. 3443/2006 on Local Youth Councils, 27 February 2006
    This Law establishes and disciplines the Local Youth Councils committed in the promotion and monitoring of measures for active and effective participation of young people in the local community. Furthermore, this Law states that Local Youth Councils undertake, in collaboration with the relevant local authority, initiatives for the full and free development of the personality of young people, by adopting and developing partnerships with relevant local Youth Councils at national and European level.