Greece’s Prime Minister George Papandreou was explicit when he said “We are not India and we are not going to be India.” The statement released by his office was the answer to Troika demands to lower more the lowest wages in the Greek private sector.
Papandreou’s reference to the ‘hunger wages’ in India set the Greek internet on fire. Hashtags like #open_INDA and #India-Giname (We became India) were opened in Twitter and Greeks armed with a colourful fantasy started their proposals:
Slumdog Millionaire – the Greek-quel…
Some proposed instead of India, we should become Bangladesh or Cambodia of the neo-liberalism
One wondered whether the Ayurveda lessons can be considered as work seminars. Another took out the cookbook and started cooking curry.
A third noted that she wanted to do 1-2 months voluntary work in India, but that she will be sent to Nea Ionia (west Athens suburb) instead. A fourth user noted “Not cash, just curry”.
And some ladies gave instructions about how to wear the traditional Indian Sari.
Bollywood videos sprang like mushrooms and flooded the Greek forums even of serious economics websites.
Video: “Benny” is the nickname of Greek FinMin E. Venizelos
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…..parodies with Greek lyrics
Video: Lost Body
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and some uploaded videos so Greeks get used to their new identity..
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Yes. Unfortunately Greece turned into a Bollywood slapstick….
Nice figures on SKAI: Minimum wage Greece 751 per month. Minimum wage India between 20 and 30 euro per month…
Ireland 1462 EUR
Belgium 1444 EUR
France 1365 EUR
England 1114 EUR
U.S. 869 EUR
Greece 751 EUR
Spain 748 EUR
Portugal 566 EUR
Romania 158 EUR
Bulgaria 123 EUR
India 20 to 30 euros
“Meanwhile, in seven countries, Cyprus, Germany, Denmark, Filandia, Sweden, Italy and Austria, the minimum wage does not exist. There is a minimum wage which is not defined by the state law, but by associations and unions. In Germany 60% of contracts are industry and 40% are either operational, or there are no contracts. For example, an unskilled worker in a shipping company paid a 750 euro per month as an assistant hairdresser. While it is estimated that approximately seven million part-time workers are paid 400 euros per month. And then there are workers in the former East Germany with wages that do not exceed three euro per hour …”
In Greece the minimum wage rose from 490 euro in 2002 to 763 euro in 2012. That’s 51% in 10 years time.
wages comaprison makes not much sense, if you don’t cpmare also consumers prices.
Yes, that was the Prime Ministers ‘populist game’. And it is a crazy game.
For a comparison of consumer prises look here: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Comparative_price_levels_for_food,_beverages_and_tobacco