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Tuesday, 26 November 2024 | ||
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-11-24Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM chairs meeting on support for unemployed���-�PA/Prime Minister George Papandreou on Tuesday chaired a government meeting on action to promote social cohesion and protection, especially on health care for the unemployed.Attending the meeting were Labour and Social Insurance Minister Louka Katseli, and Deputy Labour Minister George Koutroumanis, as well as Deputy Health and Social Solidarity Minister Mihalis Timosidis and the head of the Manpower Employment Organisation OAED Elias Kikilias.ANa-Mpa They discussed three pillars of action that will include full coverage of medical and hospital treatment for an estimated 400,000 unemployed in 2011. This coverage will be available to under-30s registered as unemployed, even if they have no social insurance contributions, while those aged 30 years must have at least two years' worth of social insurance contributions with IKA or the OAEE fund for the self-employed. The number of social insurance stamps required then increases by 100 days for each year after 30, up to a maximum of 3,000 days insurance. The programme is also open to employees that have 50 days of social insurance contributions with any social insurance fund during 2010 (instead of the current 70 days). More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [02] FinMin cites 10 major challengesANA-MPA/Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou on Tuesday outlined what he called the 10 most significant challenges facing the Greek economy in 2011, saying: "we have a lot of work ahead, we have structural reforms to ensure the sustainability of reducing deficits and viability of the country's public finances".Speaking to reporters, the Greek minister sounded "open" to a possibility of extending the repayment period of loans received by the 110-billion-euro support mechanism, although he stressed that no decision over an extension has been taken. Moreover, he dismissed speculation of additional loans from 2013 onwards. ANA-Mpa Papaconstantinou stressed that Greece's aim was to return to capital markets in 2011, saying "we are doing our job. The rest will come in due time, depending on how things are going". Additionally, Papaconstantinou categorically reassured that "there is no issue of dismissals in the public sector", saying that transfer of workers in the public sector would not be counted as new hirings. The Greek minister thanked his colleagues in government for their cooperation with the troika experts, while he criticised the opposition for its stance. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [03] POE-OTA calls off strikeANA-MPA/The strike called by the POE-OTA union has been suspended following negotiations held with Deputy Interior Minister George Dolios in a special meeting they had with him at noon on Tuesday.The deputy minister promised that as of January 1, 2011 an integrated framework of wages and employment will be determined for employees in municipal enterprises. Moreover, the sector's collective labour agreement will be signed immediately, that was one of the strikers' main demands. Consequently, the collection of garbage will begin as of Tuesday evening. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [04] Seamen's union extends strikeANa-MPA/�he Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) on Tuesday decided to continue its ongoing strike for another 48 hours.PNO demands the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement for seamen working in ferries and freighters up to 500 DWTs, as well as the safeguarding Greek dockworkers' jobs, amongst others. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [05] Migrant-trafficking ring dismantledANA-MPA/A migrant-trafficking ring operating in the southeast Attica region of Koropi and transporting undocumented migrants from Greece to Italy was dismantled by SE Attica Security police and the Vari police station, authorities announced on Tuesday.The main suspects are three Afghan migrants arrested by police on the 33rd kilometre of the Athens-Sounion road on Sunday afternoon, who are accused of participating in a criminal organisation involving in trafficking migrants. Another 27 Afghan migrants, among them seven minors, are accused of attempting to illegally exit the country. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [06] Foreign Ministry on S. KoreaThe Greek Foreign Ministry expressed grave concern following the escalation of tension between North and South Korea, and "unequivocalay condemned North Korea's aggressive attitude".Foreign Ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras in a statement Tuesday stressed that Greece "is watching with concern the latest developments in the Korean peninsula and the aggressive attitude of North Korea that, according to reports, caused the loss of human lives in South Korea." "Greece unequivocally condemns this act which undermines the region's peace and stability," Delavekouras said and also welcomed the efforts of the President of South Korea for a de-escalation of the crisis and called on the North Korean government to respond accordingly. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [07] ND expels deputyANa-mpa/Main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras on Tuesday expelled Iraklion MP Lefteris Avgenakis from the party's Parliamentary group in response to his statements to a radio station on Monday concerning the newly formed 'Democratic Alliance' party.ND Secretary Andreas Lykourentzos announced that Samaras had also convened ND's ethics committee:ana-mpa/ "Because there are clear signs that a plan is unfolding to cut off ND's upward course and support the PASOK government, President Antonis Samaras will adhere to the last to the mandate he received from the Greek people for a renewed, strong and responsible ND, without introspection and disorientation, dedicated to its great duty to contribute decisively to the country's exit from the crisis," he said. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form [08] Migrants found deadANa-MPA/Four undocumented migrants, believed to be Iranian nationals, were found dead in an abandoned truck trailer found in the Amfilochia region on Tuesday. The tragedy was discovered after police examined the trailer, which had been left without a tractor, considering its presence suspicious.ANa-MPaIn the interior of the trailer were wooden boxes, one of which contained the four dead foreign nationals, while the others were empty and may possibly have also hidden undocumented migrants that escaped by some unknown means. The trailer had Italian licence plates and is believed to have been heading for Patras in order to board a ship to Italy. More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |