migrants",1081 with Vouliwatch attributing these statements, amongst others, to an attempt “to stir up xenophobic reflexes [in an effort] to shift the debate away from any responsibility of the state”.1082 The RVRN also “underscored [that], such phenomena normalize, encourage, and ultimately escalate racist reactions, firstly in the media and social media, that sometimes result in attacks on the street, with the clear risk of irreparably disrupting social cohesion”. With regards 2024, the RVRN’s relevant report had not yet been issued by the time of writing. According to a recent RSA report on Kos, incidents of racist violence were reported by Kos CCAC’s residents. “The presence of police is particularly noticeable in Kos town, with frequent reports of arbitrary detainment and body searches of CCAC residents, even incidents of racist violence. Discriminatory treatment at the hospital has also been reported, along with an incident of hostile behaviour toward an organisation’s members, including damage to their vehicle.”1083 Furthermore, on 26 June 2024, the first meeting of the National Council against Racism and Intolerance took place under the coordination of the Ministry of Social Cohesion; a positive development that coincides with the development of a new action plan against racism, given that the previous one, which started in 2020, ended in 2023.1084 C. Employment and education 1. Access to the labour market Indicators: Access to the Labour Market 1. Does the law allow for access to the labour market for asylum applicants? Yes No ❖ If yes, when do asylum applicants have access the labour market? 60 days from the lodging of the asylum application 2. Does the law allow access to employment only following a labour market test? Yes No 3. Does the law only allow asylum applicants to work in specific sectors? ❖ If yes, specify which sectors: Yes No 4. Does the law limit asylum applicants’ employment to a maximum working time? ❖ If yes, specify the number of days per year Yes No 5. Are there restrictions to accessing employment in practice? Yes No Legislative framework Access to the labour market is the means for applicants and beneficiaries of international protection to integrate into the host society, regain their autonomy and self-esteem and feel empowered. Article 57 of the Asylum Code, as amended by L. 5078/2023 (Article 192), provides that applicants have a right to access the labour market within sixty (60) days of the lodging of their application and the receipt of the relevant legal documents, as long as no first instance decision has been taken by the Asylum Service, and the delay cannot be attributed to the applicant. 1085 This amendment, minimising waiting time to access Greek labour market from 6 months to 2 months, comes at a time of significant shortages in Greece’s labour market and was part of new legislation that also introduced the possibility of undocumented third country nationals to regularise their status, inter alia subject to being able to present a job offer. The amendment has been welcomed by UN Agencies as a 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 Ethnos, Mitsotakis: It is sort of certain that the fire in Evros was started by a human hand - It started from migrant routes”, 31 August 2023, available in Greek at: https://tinyurl.com/3ms5an7p. Vouliwatch, Mitsotakis: "It is certain that the fire in Evros was started by a human hand - It started from migrant routes, 31 August 2023, available in Greek at: https://tinyurl.com/nav45vyv. RSA, Kos, 10 December 2024, available here. Ministry for Social Cohesion & Family, 26 June 2024, available in Greek here. Article 57(1) Asylum Code, as amended by Article 192 L. 5078/2023. 201