The Ombudsman recommends to include long term residents under anti-discrimination law protection
The existing anti-discrimination law n.3304/2005, which transposed the race and equality directives, does not provide sufficient protection to third country nationals in the field of employment, due to the clause of the exception of citizenship from the grounds of application. As the Ombudsman repeats for the fourth time in its fourth Annual Report (2008), 'what is more disquieting though is the broad range of discriminatory treatment against foreigners living in our country as evidenced by the fact that while most of these cases can hardly be deemed justifiable, they are not subject to the protection granted in virtue of the ascription of EU citizenship, the latter being usually regarded by the Greek legislation as a necessary condition for the enforcement of equal treatment provisions.’ According to the Ombudsman this is a situation leading to a tolerated discrimination in employment and should be addressed through a legislation reform. In particular, through the inclusion of the holders of long term resident status under the protection umbrella of the anti-discrimination law: 'It is imperative to subsume under the protective scope of the Directive (as incorporated by means of the Statute 3304/2005) third-country nationals who are staying in Greece for a long period of time.'
Source:
The Greek Ombudsman, Equality Body Annual Report 2008, p.24, http://www.synigoros.gr/diakriseis/pdfs_01/8660_2_ISH_METAXEIRISH_2008_English.pdf
