Building Dialogue in Greece’s Social Services Sector: Two Days of Exchange under InGoodShape

On 27-28 April, the Greek Network of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (The NET) held a nationwide two-day event in Athens with social services organisations and employee representatives. The aim was to exchange views, build trust, and explore common ground for a possible future social dialogue.

At a time of uncertainty and rapidly changing working environments, the event highlighted the need for stronger cooperation to ensure resilient workplaces and high-quality services for persons with disabilities.

The Greek social services sector is characterised by a mixed structure, combining public provision with a significant role for non-profit organisations and private actors, particularly in services for persons with disabilities. Coordination and structured social dialogue between employers and employees have the potential to develop a more consistent approach for quality and accessible social services.

The first day focused on capacity building of employers, as a prerequisite for meaningful participation in social dialogue. The second day was designed as an exercise in future social dialogue, simulating structured dialogue mechanisms in social services and discussing joint issues from different perspectives.

Representatives of employers and employees prepared their respective priorities in separate preparatory sessions, then came together for the exchange of views. Participants identified and agreed on three key priority areas for continued discussion:

• addressing burnout and understaffing challenges,
• strengthening training and professional development opportunities,
• and clarifying roles and responsibilities of different jobs profiles.

After these initial discussions, the event concluded with a shared openness to further advance social dialogue for the sector.

More information on the InGoodShape project here.