European rights court condemns Greece over migrant 'forced labour'

FILE PHOTO: A migrant who lives in Greece takes part in a rally protesting against a shooting incident that took place in the town of Manolada, in Athens, Greece, April 18, 2013. REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis/File Photo

ATHENS (Reuters) - Europe's top human rights court accused Greece on Thursday of failing to protect migrant workers who had been subject to "forced labour" and shot at by security guards when they protested over unpaid wages.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered Athens to pay 16,000 euros each to the workers whose case had triggered outrage across the country. Greek authorities, it said, had been fully aware of the circumstances.