While thousands of public workers are set to lose their jobs under a so-called mobility scheme, thousands of others, including health staff, are being transferred to other positions, the government said.
All 1,665 of the employees in the health sector whose jobs were eliminated are now to be rehired in different jobs by Sept. 26, the Health Ministry said without explaining how that saves any money.
That came after the government said while it’s firing and transferring people that it will create 1,754 new jobs at hospitals in Athens and Thessaloniki, creating even more positions, although it didn’t say if the workers will be paid on time as many have been waiting months for back pay.
Employees included in the mobility scheme have already reportedly started submitting applications, noting their preferences for their new postings. The process is expected to take 15-17 days.
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has insisted several times over the past few weeks that there will be no layoffs in the health sector as part of an overhaul of the civil service pledged by the government to its foreign creditors. Greece has pledged to put 25,000 civil servants into the mobility scheme – where staff are put on a reduced wage ahead of their transfer or dismissal – by the end of the year and to lay off 15,000 public sector workers by the end of 2014.
Sure to be let go, however, are school crossing guards, janitors, school nurses, teachers and municipal police officers while higher-paid managers, consultants and Parliament workers have been protected and exempted so far.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
