A large number of employment agencies have been hiring cheap labor across Europe. But many Greeks have fallen victim to high expectations and fraudulent recruitment deals. Like most Greeks, Nikos Varthimiadis is bust. Bad debts ruined his bakery last year, pushing the middle-aged man and father of three into …
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Living in Athens: 1:2 households cannot afford heating, 1:5 work for less than €500
The living and working conditions of the millions of people living in the Attica prefecture and Athens have been surveyed by Marc on behalf of the Attica Regional Authorities in cooperation with the Labor Center of Athens. The results draw – as no otherwise expected – a grim picture of …
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Medical Marijuana could tackle Greece’s persistent unemployment problem
How to Attack Greece’s Persistent Unemployment? Grow Some Weed – This is the title of a Bloomberg report about the perspectives of growing medical marijuana in Greece and how to tackle the problem of unemployment that has been over 20% in the last five years.. The Greek economy has been …
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“By 2019 elections unemployment will have returned to 15%,” says Gov’t minister
Environment Minister Giorgos Stathakis is confident that the unemployment rates will keep falling in fast pace as perspective of the clear exit from the fiscal adjustment program is clear and the increase of investment is certain. “By the time of elections in September 2019, the unemployment rates will have returned …
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Unemployment is Greece rise 4.88% in November compared to October
Registered unemployment climbed by 4.88 pct in November compared to October, a statement issued by the Greek Employment Manpower Organization (OAED) said on Wednesday. 40,261 people were added to the long lists of jobless. Overall, November’s registered unemployed came to 864,778 in November compared to 824,517 in October. Of these …
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Unemployment decreases, yet 580K workers earn just €407 per month
Unemployment in Greece decreases, part-time jobs and low wages increase and a government minister with a monthly salary of several thousands euros says “better bad paid than not be paid at all.” Greece’s jobless rate fell to 20.2 percent in July-to-September from 21.1 percent in the second quarter, data from …
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Labor Institute INE draws a grim picture of real Greek economy, sets unemployment much higher
The report of Labor Institute of the private sector union GSEE (INE) draws a grim picture of the Greek economy – despite the government narrative about the positive outlook. “The Greek economy is looking for an upward venture,” said one of the INE directors who presented the report. However, “evidence …
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Tsipras in Deth2017: We organize the future. From Grexit to Grinvest
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Saturday that the country’s Grexit status had changed into Grinvest as it was now attracting investors in droves. Inaugurating the 82nd International Fair of Thessaloniki (TIF), he was not able to announce measures to benefit the society – as Greek prime ministers usually …
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“Unprecedented -Greece is several economic tragedies rolled into one”
Greece’s economy and debt crisis – an underrepresented tragedy watched closely by the economists of the future. As an example to be avoided. “Unprecedented – Greece is several economic tragedies rolled into one,” writes Dan Kopf, economics and markets reporter. He puts Greece’s financial crisis and economic plight in historical …
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Greek government new austerity package freezes pensions and collective bargain hikes
In a Bill for Fishing, Greek labor ministry quietly tabled two amendments that among others freeze future pension hikes as wells as hikes in collective bargains. The two amendments are part of a 5-amendment package of austerity measures to please the creditors. The package is the rest of prior actions, …
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“Growth is here,” says minister as Greeks face new income cuts
“Growth in 2017 is a fact, not wishful thinking,” Economy and Development minister Dimitris Papadimitriou said on Wednesday. The year 2017 will be time for real growth in Greece the minister said and assured that there are no new measures to burden the people “from now until 2018”, while in …
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Euro area unemployment 9% – Greece constantly high at 23.5%, youth 48%
The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 9.5% in March 2017, stable compared to February 2017 and down from 10.2% in March 2016. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since April 2009. The EU28 unemployment rate was 8.0% in March 2017, down from 8.1% in …
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Only 1:10 unemployed Greeks receives unemployment allowance of €360
Only one in ten unemployed Greeks receives the unemployment allowance of 360 euro per month. Each unemployed remains out of the labor market for more than two and a half years. At the same time, 350,000 families have no working member. The latest data released by Greek Labor Agency (OAED) …
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Greece’s €3bn loan to boost employment has to wait, says World Bank
The efforts of the Greek government to boost employment through a loan from the World Bank must be put on hold. And there are two reasons for this, reasons that have directly to do with the World Bank. According to exclusive information of daily Naftemporiki, a standing and inexorable condition before …
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Protesting teachers set up camping tents outside Education ministry
Armed with camping tents, dozens of elementary school teachers set them up outside the Education Ministry in Athens to protest changes in hiring criteria. They quickly set up their tents blocking the two entrances of the ministry with the effect that the ministry workers could not leave the building when …
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Jobless father of 3 to lose home due to €3.800 debt
Members of leftist political parties, solidarity groups and civic movement “I don’t pay” managed to block the eviction of a 5-member family. The activists chased the notaries out of the court room in Thessaloniki on Wednesday. The home of the family was to be auctioned as the owner had a …
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49.2% of Greece’s households have a member’s pension as “sole income source”
Half of the households in Greece declare that their sole income source is the pension of a family member. According to a survey conducted by the Small Enterprises Institute of the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants (IME GSEVEE), 49.2% of the household live on a pension of a …
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IMF Thomsen: Unemployment in Greece will return to pre-crisis levels in 2038
Director of the European Department of the International Monetary Fund Poul Thomsen estimates that it will take 21 years until unemployment will return to levels before Greece was hit by the economic crisis. Thoomsen’s shocking revelation was made during a book presentation At Atlantic council in Washington, USA. Thomsen presented …
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7:10 unemployed Greeks are “long-time jobless” without any allowance or any other support
The proportion of long-time unemployed in Greece is particularly high. According to data published by the Greek Statistics Authority (ELSTAT), 72.2% of the Greek unemployed have been looking for more than 12 months for a work without success. But also without any allowance given by the state or any support …
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Entrepreneurship by necessity: Greek businessmen lost in “zombie” cafes & souvlaki grills
In the years of the crisis, Greeks have turned into entrepreneurs by necessity – if not by desperation. Lack of job opportunities sends more and more unemployed Greeks into “micro-entrepreneuship” of high risk and uncertain outcome for the sole purpose of survival. Wanting to ensure a minimum income and given …
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