WE FIGHT TOGETHER FOR HUMANE LIVING, RESIDENCE AND WORKING CONDITIONS.
On the occasion of the recent fire that broke out in Nea Manolada, Ilia, in shanties and makeshift camps for migrants, the dangerous living conditions of thousands of migrant farm workers have come to the surface again.
It is impossible today, in 2025, for the thousands of migrants who work from morning until night in the vast expanses of Western Achaia, Nea Manolada and the wider region, who produce hundreds of tons of agricultural products, to live with low wages and in inhumane conditions, for even the existing regulations and conditions for accommodation and living conditions not to be applied.
Our union has been continuing its interventions and meetings with state bodies, municipalities and embassies throughout this time regarding the acute problems faced by our migrant workers in the region of Western Achaia and Northern Ilia. In this context, following a request from our Union and the Patras Labor Center, a meeting was scheduled with the Minister of Migration Policy and Asylum, Mr. Voridis, for Thursday, June 19.
Our union, together with the labor center, will demand from the Ministry of Migration Policy and Asylum, the Greek government to immediately proceed with emergency measures concerning the living, residence and working conditions of thousands of migrant workers.
Below is the memorandum with the requests that we will submit to the Minister and the Greek government:
ABOUT THE DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
he response of the Lechaina Fire Department, through the incident report, in relation to the fire that broke out in Nea Manolada, is not satisfactory, nor does it mention any shortcomings or other measures that need to be taken. Let us not forget that these are areas with a huge concentration of labor, mainly thousands of immigrants who live in dozens of makeshift camps made of flammable materials, without any safety and fire protection measures being observed by the employers. In fact, you know very well that all mass gathering and residence areas of people are normally subject to Presidential Decree 71/88, article 19, regarding passive and active fire safety measures.
The following measures should be taken immediately under the responsibility of the Ministry:
o An emergency inspection should be carried out in all accommodation and camps regarding the compliance of employers with the prescribed fire safety regulations and the existence of relevant permits. No one can turn a blind eye to what concerns human lives.
o All migrant accommodation facilities, regardless of construction, should be inspected under the responsibility of the fire department, to ensure that they are equipped with the necessary fire extinguishers and fire extinguishing equipment, a 24-hour water supply, escape routes and special signage, under the responsibility of the employers.
o All areas around migrant workers’ accommodation and accommodation areas should be cleaned of flammable materials, garbage, etc. under the responsibility of the Municipalities and other competent services. The fire department should proceed with regular inspections to ensure compliance with these measures.
o Daily fire patrols should be carried out in areas where migrant workers live and gather. Permanent fire stations should be established in the above areas.
CONCERNING ISSUES OF LEGALIZATION DOCUMENTS
AND RESIDENCE PERMITS
o To grant residence and work permits, without fees, to all migrant agricultural workers who were affected by the fire, as they have been registered by our unions and who were proven to have worked in the productive activity of the area. The residence permits to all migrants should be issued directly by the Ministry, with its team that will be located in the area, in order to stop the unacceptable regime of mediation by law firms and other scammers who ask migrants for money even for simple procedures.
o Under the responsibility of the Greek government and in direct consultation with the corresponding embassies, to ensure the return of all necessary legal, personal and travel documents to all migrant workers who were affected by the fire.
o To grant long-term residence and work permits to those immigrants who live and work for years or even permanently in Greece. To ensure the right for their families to be able to come permanently to our country and for their children to go to school.
ON HEALTH ISSUES AND ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE
In this particular area, there are huge needs for medical care and treatment. Specifically, these are thousands of immigrants who face serious problems due to living and working conditions, serious musculoskeletal, pathological and dermatological problems and at the same time they do not have access to the health units in the area, nor to medical examinations and prescriptions. Their life in makeshift camps, without drinking water and often without sanitary facilities, has created conditions of a health bomb for both themselves and the permanent residents of the area. At the same time, it is known that Nea Manolada in Ilia, Lappas in Achaia are under quarantine, with residents even excluded from voluntary blood donation.
We demand
o To ensure in every way the free access of all migrant workers to preventive examinations and medical check-ups, their free access to all health units in the region regardless of whether or not they have an insurance number (AMKA). Under the responsibility of the government and the dispatch of a team to the region, AMKA should be issued to thousands of migrants.
o Every week, on a specific day and time, a mobile health unit should travel under the responsibility of the government and the 6th Ministry of Health, which will undertake the preventive medical check-ups of migrant workers. Preventive blood tests should be carried out and access to specialized doctors such as cardiologists, diabetologists, and orthopedic surgeons should be ensured.
o To ensure that all migrants will have free access to the prescription of their medications and their supply, as well as to the special means they need to take them. For example, there are immigrants with diabetes who have stopped taking the insulin they were supposed to take, as they did not have a refrigerator to store it.
o Under the responsibility of the National Public Health Organization, using its mobile units, everyone should be vaccinated with the necessary vaccines for their age, while taking into account the special health conditions in which they live (tetanus, hepatitis, etc.).
o Measures should be taken to prevent endemic diseases such as tuberculosis.
o A Multipurpose Regional Clinic should be created, fully equipped and staffed for all residents of the area.
o The health structures of the area should be strengthened with doctors and nurses to cover the needs of all Greek residents and immigrants.
ABOUT RESIDENCE AND LIVING CONDITIONS ISSUES
As you know, at least in theory, there are specific regulations and conditions that dictate the living conditions of migrant workers, especially when interstate agreements have been signed under the responsibility of the state. For example, in Joint Ministerial Decision No. 41835/31-7-2024 concerning the determination of the health and safety standards of the accommodation provided to seasonally employed third-country nationals (including seasonal agricultural workers of Manolada), the employer’s obligation to provide suitable accommodation as well as the specifications thereof is clearly stated.
We demand, under the responsibility of the Ministry
o To comply with the conditions provided for in Joint Ministerial Decision No. 41835/31-7-2024 and which concern the determination of the health and safety standards of the accommodation provided to the seasonally working third-country national.
o To carry out constant and intensive inspections by the competent state services for compliance with the conditions and standards of the accommodation. To staff the competent control mechanisms with the necessary personnel and means.
o To immediately proceed with an emergency program of mycosis and insecticidal treatment in all areas and accommodation where migrant workers are concentrated. To implement constant monitoring and programs of mycosis – insecticidal treatment based on the needs of each area.
o To implement, under the responsibility of the Municipalities and under the supervision of the Ministry, a special plan for the cleaning and disinfection of all areas and points where thousands of migrants and accommodation or makeshift camps gather. To install the necessary waste collection bins and their regular collection.
o To prepare a comprehensive plan with state funding for the construction of special accommodation in areas where thousands of migrant workers gather due to specific crops (such as strawberries). The specific accommodation should provide decent and humane living and accommodation conditions (drinking water and sanitary facilities, electricity, eating and resting areas, etc.). In each accommodation complex, there should be recreational, sports and cultural areas.
ABOUT WORKING CONDITIONS,
WAGES AND LABOR RIGHTS ISSUES
o To guarantee equal rights for Greek and immigrant workers in terms of wages, insurance, benefits, health and safety measures. To guarantee a satisfactory wage for all Greek and immigrant workers employed in the cultivation, standardization and packaging of agricultural products based on the demands of the Dairy – Food – Beverage Federation.
o No immigrant worker can work uninsured. It is the responsibility of the Ministry to register the entire workforce in the specific areas and to check their insurance coverage.
o To stop the unacceptable regime of slave traders who exploit immigrants and do not pay them their wages. Every employer to pay directly every employee they employ based on the prescribed legislation. This assumes that all immigrant workers have the necessary legal documents, as we mentioned above, and that they are all insured.
o The employment of migrant workers cannot exceed 40 hours of work per week. We demand a five-day – 8-hour – 40-hour workweek.
o Work must be stopped when the temperature exceeds 38°C and at lower temperatures depending on the relative humidity, either in the field or in greenhouses. Mandatory measurements in the workplace. Distribution, under the responsibility of employers, of the necessary quantity of drinking water to each employee.
o Health and safety measures for all employees, regardless of their method of remuneration, with substantial control of employer liability. Special health and safety measures when it comes to work that requires the use of pesticides or other dangerous work.
GREEK AND FOREIGN WORKERS, WE FIGHT TOGETHER
FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, FOR DIGNIFIED WAGES
WHICH COVER OUR NEEDS, FOR HUMAN LIVING CONDITIONS.
WE JOIN HANDS AND FIGHT TOGETHER FOR WHAT WE DESERVE!
