The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-07-11

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Over Labour Issues Week of Changes

By Vagelis Theodorou

The cycle of Government contacts regarding reforms on labour relations, so as to define the content of the regulation, will be completed on Monday with the meeting between Employment Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos and GSEE (Greek General Confederation of Labour). The focal points of this dialogue is overtime cost reduction and the settlement of working time, while with the Bill on flexible working hours and overtime cost the Government is aiming at boosting competitiveness and employment. On Monday morning, GSEEs Steering Committee will convene in order to determine its positions and decide whether it will attend the dialogue with the Employment Ministry. In the meantime, the discussion on the Bill for the new shopping hours will open this week in Parliament.

Critical Meeting

Changes in working hours and overtime cost trigger the harsh reaction of the Confederation, which has warned with a 24-hour strike on the day the Labour Bill will be submitted to Parliament.

The Confederation is also raising objections on the implementation of flexible hours. In fact, according to information, it will ask Mr Panagiotopoulos to extend the dialogue and the topics of the agenda and not to proceed with a legislative regulation in the summer.

However, GSEEs delegation will not be arriving complete to the meeting, as unionists affiliated to KKE and SYN are not participating in the dialogue.

It is noted that after relevant talks with social partners, Mr Panagiotopoulos stressed there are no already-made decisions and committed that the daily working time will not be exceeding 10 hours.

Roadblocks for Working Hours

What is more, the multilateral Bill of the Development Ministry on Trade, regulating shopping hours among other things, is expected to become a Law by the end of July. It is noted that discussion on shopping hours will start in Parliament within the week.

Businesses and employees react to the new shopping hours (09:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and 09:00 to 20:00 on Saturdays) and have announced collective actions and roadblocks.

In particular, GSEVEE (General Confederation of Small and Medium Sized Businesses) Board decided to proceed with roadblocks at Tembi, Rio-Antirrio, and the Isthmus of Corinth next Wednesday, July 13, while it is also planning on taking the matter to the European Commission.

On the same day, stores will remain closed in Crete, while businessmen in each prefecture will make their own decisions on further actions.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] Port Growth at Focus

By Betty Savourdou

Sources: NET Radio 105.8, NET

The financial protocol for the growth of ports, which is due to be signed on Tuesday at the European Investment Bank, topped the agenda at the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Minister of Mercantile Marine. Manolis Kefalogiannis expressed his optimism that the programme, which is worth 3 billion euros, will be completed in a short time and pay off both for the islands and the Greek economy in total.

Signed on Tuesday

As per the Minister, this is a financial programme that will assist the development of Greek ports and their modernization and added, we are optimistic that the exploitation of the financial protocol will help the development of ports and shipping routes.

Mr Kefalogiannis also noted that the Protocol might even be signed tomorrow, while answering which ports will be favoured, he said originally the 12 major ports and the rest will follow suit.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[03] Thoughts for Common Tax Rate at 25% Changes in Taxation

By Vagelis Theodorou

The Government is looking into radical changes in taxation, aiming at stabilizing individual revenue, eliminating tax evasion and reinforcing budget income, as well as to create a strong motive for bigger investment activity. As per an article featured in Kathimerini tis Kyriakis, the economic group is looking into the scenario of single revenue taxation at a 25% tax rate as of 2007 and the increase of untaxed revenue from 11,000 euros to 13,000. The new tax rate will abolish all previous ones (15%, 30% and 40%) and all revenues from salaries, pensions and freelance occupations will be taxed based on it do that citizens and businesses are treated the same. As the paper underlined, the planning of the new regulation will be completed within the following days by Economy Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis and has the PMs original approval.

Apart from the new revenue taxation, Mr Alogoskoufis has also made changes in immovable property taxation, which will be soon announced.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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