The concept of social economy as it is perceived in an international or European context is not widespread in Greece. Traditionally, social economy is linked with cooperatives and the common feature is cooperation among partners such as in farmers or women’s cooperatives. Recently, this concept is changing with baby steps...
The contribution of social economy in Greece compared to other European countries remains at significantly low level. Employment in the field of Social Economy represents only 1.8% of total employment and 2.9% of salaried employment. In Greece there are mixed organisations, volunteer organisations offering advocate services, in the form of unions, associations recognised as charity organisations, civil law non profit partnerships, financially-oriented associations, organisations or entrepreneurial schemes developing procedures for the labour market inclusion of excluded population groups.
According to the Registry of Social Economy (Governmental Institution) 1169 Social Enterprises (latest update on 15/10/2016) have been registered since 2011, the year that Social Economy law was launched. 303 of them have already been deleted because they did not comply with the criteria for SE. 35 of them are considered Social Cooperative Enterprises for the Inclusion and 118 for Social Care, both categories aiming vulnerable and special social groups. 1014 Social Cooperative Enterprises aim Collective and Social Benefit. In the region of Central Macedonia, where Thessaloniki is, 169 social enterprises are accounted.
