In a symbolic action owners of restaurants, cafes and bars handed their keys over to the state in Athens, Thessaloniki and other Greek cities to protest the the extended shut down of their businesses due to government pandemic measures. The extended lockdown threaten the survival of their businesses, four in ten are about to close permanently a survey has found.
At Syntagma square in downtown Athens, protesters set up a box where the economically exhausted businessmen from the catering sector threw an envelop with the key of their business.The envelops are adressed to the Prime Minister and are supposed to be delivered to the PM’s office later on Wednesday.
A recent survey by the Panhellenic Federation of Catering Companies and President of GSEVEEhas found out that four in ten businesses are about to close for ever.
Speaking to CNNGreece, the president of GSEVEE George Kavvathas said that meanhwile the number of businesses to permanently close has risen to 6 out of 10. A situation going from bad to worse.
“The catering industry is in despair,” Kavvathas stressed and underlined the need for much broader support measures than those available to the government, including debt cuts, debt freezes, job support and not unemployment benefits.
He spoke about business subsidies and not loans and financial support for businesses for six months.
Finally, he expressed his concern about the fact that the money provided in the latest budget for the coronavirus is several times lower than that the one given in 2020, which shows that the available resources to support the economy have not been secured at present.
via thestival.gr
In Thessaloniki, the country’s second largest city, some 300 owners threw their keys in a big pot together with their best regards to the Prime Minister’s office.
300 #εστιάτορες στη #Θεσσαλονίκη, παρέδωσαν τα κλειδιά των επιχειρήσεών τους. Τα έξοδα τρέχουν, λένε, και πλέον δεν μπορούν να αντεπεξέλθουν. #ΕΡΤ3 pic.twitter.com/LMKUls9I9n
— ERT3Social (@ERT3Social) February 10, 2021
Businessmen form the catering sector, if fact, they did nothing else than follow the call by Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis who urged them on Feb 2nd, to give him the keys of their businesses, if they believe that they don’t manage to survive amid lockdown restrictions.
Since November 7, 2020, the sector is allowed to operate only with delivery and take away. For many restaurants and bars the solution is not viable. The sector was allowed to open only for 3-4 months in summer, after a
Restaurants in Serbia are open……!!!!