Labor Minister Niki Kerameos discussed workplace issues addressed in the new labor bill on ERT News and the Press Talk show. Among other things, she noted that the new labor bill has two main pillars to strengthen workers with many supportive provisions, mentioning for example that a working parent could work four days a week with appropriate arrangement of working time. She noted that “It extends the right to maternity and childbirth benefits. Let me be specific – for many years a woman to be eligible for maternity and childbirth benefits had to have 200 stamps from the same fund, more or less from the same employer. And we ask why from the same one? What do we care? If she has worked for 1, 2, or 3 employers? We care that she has worked because maternity and childbirth benefit is an insurance right. So whether she has worked for one, two, or three employers is irrelevant to us. We care if she has worked. We are extending this. So we are expanding those eligible for maternity and childbirth benefits.” Additionally, Ms. Kerameos emphasized that the 13-hour issue is a measure – a possibility only for 37 days per year, up to three days per month. She estimated that sectors with demand for workers are those where it might be applied, while adding that this regulation concerns employees working for one employer and workers will receive 40% for each hour of overtime work, while until today those who work for two employers do not receive a corresponding increase.
“Digital work card is the ultimate tool for protecting workers”
At another point in her statements she emphasized that 0.1% of businesses took advantage of the emergency shift regulation, which initially caused a storm as six-day work. At the same time, the Labor Minister said that agreement is required for the 13-hour regulations and if a worker is fired for refusing the employer, the burden in a court appeal falls on the employer. She also commented that unemployment has decreased to 8% and that businesses fear worker departures because the pool from which they drew them has decreased. She characterized the digital work card as the ultimate tool for protecting workers, and it currently protects about two million workers in fixed workplaces. Additionally, she stated that overtime increased by 755% in tourism and by 300% in catering. “We have been talking for five months with each sector for the digital work card to apply and we take their observations into account. A period of adjustment is needed,” commented the Labor Minister.
“In the labor market the worker is in a stronger position than five years ago”
Speaking about leave fragmentation, she said the relevant provision gives greater flexibility to the worker. She also stated that it concerns the worker’s request for leave arrangement and that in the labor market, the worker is in a stronger position than five years ago.
What she said about the issue of second jobs
Regarding the issue of second jobs that many workers pursue, she mentioned that this happens because many workers struggle to make ends meet and that’s why the government is proceeding with corresponding measures, such as minimum wage increases, reduction of insurance contributions (another half percent will be reduced by 2027), tax reductions, so that the pie that is disposable income grows larger.
When asked why the issue of collective bargaining agreements hasn’t progressed, she said that rich dialogue is being conducted with social partners, aiming for a roadmap by the end of the year. She then mentioned that sectors like the metal sector and banking sector have already started, where collective bargaining agreements were recently signed.
“In unemployment we are at the lowest point of the last 17 years”
“We want the minimum wage to be only a safety net and the average wage has a steadily upward trajectory, while reducing unemployment is the goal so we have a society of workers and not unemployment. In unemployment we are at the lowest point of the last 17 years. DYPA has won many funds to subsidize the establishment of new businesses, which in turn create new jobs,” Ms. Kerameos emphasized.
Also speaking about young people leaving for abroad, she stated that an activity has started from the Labor Ministry that highlights through events abroad and in cooperation with businesses, which offer attractive packages, to attract them back to Greece.
“Artificial intelligence facilitates the control process for recording workers’ insurance rights,” Ms. Kerameos also emphasized.
She then underlined that there is no planning to increase retirement age limits.
