Coalition Party to Vote Against Labor Reform Law

By on October 25, 2012 in News, Politics

Greek Democratic Left leader Fotis Kouvelis

The center-left Dimar party, the smallest in the government’s three-party coalition, announced it will vote against the labor reform agreed to with the Troika of creditors; the European Union, the European Central Bank and the IMF. The reforms are part of a package of austerity measures needed to release a new bailout. “We are asking the Troika to withdraw these proposals,” said party representative, Sakis Papathanasiou, in a TV interview. The government announced it has ended negotiations with the Troika on the austerity program
The standoff puts Antonis Samaras, the Greek prime minister, in a difficult position since his finance minister has publicly rejected any changes before the reforms are put to the Greek parliament. A rejection by Democratic Left could put the programme at risk since centre-left Pasok, the second largest party in the coalition, could face defections without Mr Kouvelis’ support.
“Let’s hope everything will be OK at the end,” said a senior government official.

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  • Anonymous

    I am definitely not a supporter of Greek left but some of he labour law changes asked for are unreasonable. Why is the Troika asking for 6 day work week when everyone in their own country’s works five?  The cuts in spending and job trimming  I could understand but bizarre requests like this are unreasonable.

  • Anonynous

    They don’t ask for a compulsory 6 day work week. They just ask for the legal permission of having a 6day work week for the people who demand it. It’s happening all around Europe. You can go to work on Saturdays for half a day and get paid extra hours if you want.
    If Greece wants to be competitive on the work-market it has to adapt.

  • Anonymous

     Source for is is “happening all around Europe”?

  • Anonymous

    “German employment law allows for five-day workweeks. Workweeks are,
    generally, from Monday to Friday — depending on the job Saturdays may be
    included, too. It excludes public holidays of course.:
    http://www.mygermancity.com/german-employment-law

  • Anonymous

    (more on German labour laws)

    Hours for a five-day workweek average between thirty-five to forty
    hours. The daily time can’t exceed eight hours. Sometimes you can work
    up to ten hours in a day if it averages out so that in a period of six
    months the average daily time doesn’t exceed the eight hours.

    You’ll find the law prohibits working on Sundays and holidays, so if
    you are a workaholic, you will have to restrain yourself! If you do have
    an exception where you need to work at these times, you will have to
    get prior approval from the government.

    Each year you are entitled to four weeks of vacation time. It’s more
    typical to receive about 25 to 30 days a year however, which depends on
    the type of business it is and your seniority.

  • Anonymous

    I am not an expert in EU labour laws but as far s I can tell there is no government in the EU that has a 6 work week but feel free to offer constricting evidence. Employed Greeks already work the longest  hours in the EU (albeit less productive)  My only concern is Greeks are not being discriminated against. I would not tolerate a six day work week for Greeks if rest of the EU thinks a five day one is optimal for themselves.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workweek_and_weekend

  • Anonymous

     As far as I know over time is a different issue. Someone can already work on Saturdays in Greece however is is viewed as overtime not a regular work week. My understanding is the Troika is asking for a six day work week to be considered normal business hours rather than over time.

  • The maverik

    What the heck, to veto or not to veto the country is bankrupt. Its a Greek bordello…

  • mathematics

    Everything is on the way – and after November 6th….

    Yes – with the cheap DRACHMA – we will reduce imports and we will have more exports.
    And so we will reduce our high unemployment – especially our youth unemployment.

  • John

    I love all these laws about your own sweat and “entitled” to four week vacation. 

    In the rest of the world, you work as much as you want, including Sundays and more hours per day. Plus in most of the world, 2 weeks is the norm for vacation. Yeah, I know……….Greeks and Europeans are special. No wonder Greece sucks economic pumpkins through a straw. 

    Good luck with destroying yourselves……….you’re doing a great job. 

  • John

    When is the troika going to learn that we have no intention of doing anything other then taking their money? 

    We’re Greek and they better learn that we DESERVE their money.