W2T in Greece

In Greece though there is a solid legislation framework that provides for equal treatment between women and men and many steps have been taken aiming to promoting women in political, economic and social life, the percentages of women’s participation are still low. As former minister of Interior and former European Commissioner, Vasso Papandreou announced in 2003 (Eleftherotypia, 25/1/2003) women employers are 3,9 % of the overall number of employers.

Furthermore KETHI, having implemented two projects during the last three years concerning equal pay and equal treatment (during the framework of 4th and 5th community action projects) found out that job segregation, salary inequality, direct or indirect obstacles in obtaining higher management positions in enterprises or trade unions still exist. Although it is a socially well-embedded opinion that women’s participation in labour force should rise (as Lisbon summit decided to 60% by 2010), women are still facing the glass ceiling while applying for higher management positions.

Thus implementing the project “Women to the Top”, KETHI aims to build a sustainable platform for increasing the number of women in top management and also raise the awareness of key actors in Greece and initiate activities at company level to increase the number of women in top management. These targets will be achieved by
- transnational meetings that are planned to take place in all the four participating countries
- two seminars for female potential top managers, employers and recruitment offices that will introduce organization theory with a gender perspective, positive actions to promote women, tools and good practices.

The first seminar will be based on a Swedish book “It will be all right” on organization theory which will be translated and published by KETHI and will be delivered by the 30th of September 2004.The second seminar will take place on the 15th of November.

- From the end of May till the end of November 2004 KETHI`s human capacity counselors   will have provided “Vocational Development Training” to a number of female potential top   managers from several enterprises (The municipality of Athens, the METRO SA etc) and   potential entrepreneurs.
- A primary research will be conducted in the recruitment offices in Athens and the results   will be presented in the transnational conference in Stockholm January 2005, as well as in   the website.

Ms Antigoni Limperaki is the Scientific Supervisor of the Greek part and the coordination is undertaken by Maria Tsolaki.