The Ministry of Labour was first established in October 1935 by the
Kondylis government, following the urging of
Georgios Kartalis, who also served as its first Minister. After one year, in January 1936, the new
Demertzis government abolished the ministry. Following the
coup of August 4, 1936, by
Ioannis Metaxas, the "Deputy ministry of Labour" was established, under the "Ministry of National Economy", with the responsibility "...to systematically ensure harmonious cooperation between
labour and
capital, to promote the National Economy and the moral and material upliftment of the
working classes." In November 1936, it was upgraded to an independent Deputy Ministry.
Aristeidis Dimitratos, former General Secretary of the GSEE (
General Confederation of Greek Workers), who, as a repentant communist, joined the conservative faction during this period, served as Deputy Minister. During his tenure as minister, state control over the labor market was strengthened, many professions were declared "closed" and "protected," and businesses were prohibited from dismissing employees without government approval. At the same time, a minimum daily wage was established, regardless of the days worked, industry-wide labor contracts were systematized, the eight-hour workday was further implemented, and labor legislation was more formally enforced. In September 1995, the social security sector was detached from the
Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the corresponding department, the "General Secretariat of Social Security", was incorporated into the Ministry of Labor, where it has remained since. The Ministry was renamed to the
Ministry of Labor and Social Security. In 2001, the
government of Costas Simitis attempted a reform in social security policy, mainly in its
pension arm, by increasing the
retirement age (abolishing the 35-year service requirement and introducing the principle of retirement after 40 years of work), reducing pensions, and cutting early retirements, which sparked significant social unrest. This unrest also arose within the ranks of the ruling party, prompting
Costas Simitis to "back down" and indefinitely postpone the reform. == List of ministers ==