Greece Approves Permanent Hires for Municipal Childcare Centers via ASEP

Greece is set to revolutionize the staffing of its municipal childcare centers with a new framework for permanent employment. The Ministry of Interior is rolling out a system designed to ensure stability and professionalism in preschool education facilities across the country.

The updated Local Government Code, enacted in June, introduces a unified and permanent staffing model for municipal structures. All future hires for these essential services will be processed exclusively through the Supreme Civil Service Selection Committee (ASEP), aiming to fill organizational positions with permanent staff.

An upcoming circular from Deputy Interior Minister Vivi Charalampoyianni will provide detailed instructions to decentralized administrations and local government bodies. Municipalities are urged to act swiftly, as a critical deadline looms on September 30, 2026. This new system applies to first-level local authorities and municipal public benefit enterprises operating childcare centers, provided their facilities are licensed or fall under a transitional adjustment period until 2028.

The primary immediate obligation for municipalities is to establish permanent positions for regular staff. They have until September 30, 2026, to amend their internal service regulations, creating permanent roles for all specialties outlined in the standard operating regulations for municipal childcare and nursery centers. These roles encompass early childhood educators, assistant caregivers, social workers, psychologists, nurses, nutritionists, cooks, kitchen assistants, servers, cleaning staff, drivers, and other specialists based on each facility's needs. The total number of positions is estimated at around 9,000 nationwide.