New Research: Undeclared Work, Non-Payment of Wages, Inhumane Working Hours and Conditions

The “Revealing the Unseen Migrant Workers” survey, explores the prevalence and implications of undeclared and under-declared work among migrants and refugees in Greece. With a sample of 228 respondents across Athens and Thessaloniki, the study highlights significant challenges related to labour rights violations, vulnerabilities stemming from insecure legal statuses, and systemic barriers to formal employment. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, comprising desk research, a tailored questionnaire, and data analysis using SPSS. Participants, originating from 36 countries, were divided into two groups: those in declared or under-declared employment and those in undeclared jobs. Eleven multilingual enumerators conducted in-person or phone interviews to ensure inclusivity and accuracy in capturing the respondents’ experiences.

The survey findings reveal significant employment trends and challenges faced by migrants and refugees in Greece. Declared work, while comprising 70% of respondents’ employment, was often marred by labour rights violations. Many individuals with formal contracts reported issues such as unpaid overtime, delayed payments, and discrepancies in salary documentation. On the other hand, undeclared work affected 30% of respondents, predominantly in sectors like construction and domestic services. These workers faced significant exploitation, including underpayment and  lack of access to essential social benefits.

Labour rights violations were alarmingly prevalent, with nearly 73% of participants reporting at least one instance of mistreatment. Common issues included non-payment of allowances, denial of sick leave, and inadequate compensation for workplace injuries. Among the most vulnerable groups were undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, with 43% of them working without contracts against their will.

Several barriers to employment further compounded these challenges. Language barriers were identified as the most significant obstacle, affecting 45% of respondents. Other critical issues included unstable documentation processes, such as the issuance of AMKA (22%), and limited access to professional networks or job resources (41%). Single mothers and asylum seekers were particularly disadvantaged, often forced into precarious or informal work arrangements due to their unique circumstances.

The impact of these challenges on livelihoods was profound. Labour rights violations severely affected 40% of respondents, leading to unpaid leave, difficulties in renewing residence permits, and restricted access to unemployment benefits. Many individuals were deterred from addressing these violations, with 35% citing fears of job loss, a lack of knowledge about reporting mechanisms, and language barriers as key deterrents.

These findings underscore the critical need for systemic reforms to address exploitation, remove barriers to formal employment, and protect the rights of migrants and refugees in the Greek labour market. The findings highlight the need for systemic reforms to address labour exploitation and improve integration in the labour market. Recommendations include enhancing labour inspections and focusing on deterrence, simplifying pathways to legal employment, expanding Greek language training, and providing affordable housing solutions to reduce precarious living conditions. This study underscores the critical vulnerabilities faced by migrants and refugees in Greece’s labour market and the necessity of targeted interventions to protect their rights and promote inclusion.

Find here the Research Revealing the Unseen MigranWorkers

A few words about the program and the research

The program “Revealing the Unseen Migrant Workers”* is being implemented by Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality & Diversity and Solidarity Now. It started in December 2023 with the aim of highlighting precarious working conditions, undeclared work, labor exploitation, as well as the inequalities and discrimination faced by migrant workers in Greece.

*The “Revealing the Unseen Migrant Workers” program will run until September 2025 and is funded by PICUM and the labor rights and migrant workers program of the Robert Bosch Stiftung.