Those Greeks thinking the loss of labour rights and benefits and the sharp income decreases of 2011 were ‘horrible enough’ enter the New Year in a state of real terror. The IMF-EU Troika is adamant in turning Greece into the “poorest India” of the euro zone labour-wise and insist on total abolition of labour rights and the national collective bargain, deleting the 13th and 14th salary, lowering the lowest wage of 750 EUR gross per month, increasing working hours, decreasing insurance contributions, reducing supplementary pensions and replacing retirement money with just a few bucks. And all the package in times of deep recession.
Troikan soldier trying to collect taxes from the poor…
What is the purpose of the Troika’s brutal intervention in the private sector? “Competitiveness”? Here is the point where troubled Greeks can start laughing…? As I”m slowly joining the conspiracy club claiming there is a plan to use Greece as an Indian fowl for the total destruction of labour rights across Europe and to test the nerves and tolerance limits of Greeks, I wonder: where is the Greek revolution?
On Wednesday, Prime Minister and ex-banker Lucas Papademos, as the informal representative of the Troika, met trade unions and employers for a lighting round of talks concerning wages, pensions and labour relations ahead the Troika arrival on Januray 16. Papademos met with the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE), Greece΄s largest umbrella trade union organisation, the Federation of Greek Industry (SEV), the association of small manufacturers and traders (GSEBEE) and other major employer associations on all outstanding issues concerning pay and pensions.
Employer associations oppose the abolition of the minimum wage under national collective labour agreements but agree with a freeze on wage increases for the next three years and the reduction of non-wage-related costs, including a 10 percent reduction in social insurance contributions that now account for 45 percent of total payroll costs.
GSEE has warned that it will not accept any measure that further increases the burdens on wage-earning employees, noting that the minimum wage is already extremely low compared with the cost of living. They also point to OECD figures showing that labour costs in Greece decreased 2.8 percent in the last year, the sharpest reduction in the Eurozone, while productivity increased by 2.4 percent.
Other issues to be examined are troika demands for a reduction in supplementary pensions and lump sums on retirement. (capital.gr)
