The complaint, lodged on 4 April 2005, relates to Article 11 (right to protection of health), Article 2§4 (right to reduced working hours or additional holidays for workers in dangerous or unhealthy occupations), Article 3§1 (safety and health regulations at work) and Article 3§2 (provision for the enforcement of safety and health regulations by measures of supervision) of the European Social Charter. It is alleged that in the main areas where lignite is mined, the State has not adequately prevented the impact for the environment nor has developed an appropriate strategy in order to prevent and respond to the health hazards for the population. It is also alleged that there is no legal framework guaranteeing security and safety of persons working in lignite mines and that the latter do not benefit from reduced working hours or additional holidays.

• Case Document no. 1, Complaint registered at the Secretariat on 4 April 2005
• Case Document no. 2, Observations from the Greek Government on the admissibility
• Case Document no. 3, Response from the MFHR to the observations by the Greek Government on the admissibility
• Case Document no. 4,  Written submissions from the Greek Government on the merits
• Case Document no. 5, Response from MFHR to the Greek Governments observations on the merits 
• Case Document no. 6, Response from the Greek Government to the further observations of MFHR on the merits
• Case Document no. 7, Further response from MFHR to the Greek Government's further response on the merits
• Case Document no. 8, Final response from the Greek Government on the merits

The European Committee of Social Rights declared the complaint admissible on 10 October 2005.

The European Committee of Social Rights concluded that there was a violation of Articles 2§4, 3§2 and 11§§1 to 3 and no violation of Article 3§1 of the Charter and it transmitted its report containing its  decision on the merits to the Parties and to the Committee of Ministers on 6 December 2006.

The Committee of Ministers adopted Resolution CM/ResChS(2008)1 on 16 January 2008.
 

 Decision on admissibility of the Complaint 30/2005

 Decision on the merits of the Complaint 30/2005

 Resolution ResChS(2008)1 of the Committee of Ministers on 16 January 2008

 Findings of the European Committee of Social Rights on the follow-up of the Complaint