Troika senior officials ask Greek Labour Ministry to create multiple salary bands across the country, based on local, sectoral needs or even cross-border agreements and uniform low wages.
The Troika calls for spending cutting and revenue increase, which could be done either by tackling tax evasion, or by reducing expenditure or by a new horizontal cutting of pensions. Labour Minister Giorgos Koutroumanis admitted that supplementary pension in SOE and banks would be cut by around 40%.
Ministry’s leadership seeks ways to avoid the abolishment of sectoral agreements and convince lenders that Greece is proceeding with measures, which would bring statutorily cost reduction also in the private sector. However, the international lenders are not convinced that the special labour contract would pay off, as only 10 have signed special contracts to reduce wages.
According to sources, the Ministry has already begun to prepare plans for application of differentiated salary bands, depending on local needs or sector requirements.
The Troika proposed the establishment of wage cross-border zones, with low wages, in order to support the stay or entry of enterprises in Greece. Thus, it would be possible to apply “Bulgarian” salaries in Northern Greece, not exceeding €350/month.
In order to keep a low profile and avoid pressures on sectoral agreements, the Ministry promotes measures to facilitate procedures for specific labour contracts.
(source: capital)
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