Greek Tourism Trade Bodies Calling for ‘Softer’ Measures

Photo: GTP

Reducing employee insurance contributions, introducing opt-out options for loss-making businesses, and allowing part-time employment are just some of the proposals tabled by Greek tourism trade bodies with regard to a draft law tabled in parliament.

More specifically the Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers (POX) and and the Pan-Hellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises (GEPOET) are calling on Labor Minister Efi Achtsioglou to re-consider taxation and insurance contributions for tourism businesses in order for these to be able to keep to the collective labour agreement.

Both POX and GEPOET are urging lawmakers to take into consideration the vast differences in terms of location and size. “Accommodation facilities in remote areas, at destinations impacted by the refugee influx, or in small towns are still struggling to remain viable, subsisting for the most part only on domestic tourism,” the trade bodies said in a letter to Achtsioglou.

“As a result these businesses are unable to meet to the collective labor agreement terms.”

“From the very first moment, we have expressed the opinion that a prerequisite for the maintenance of the collective labor agreement and for its renewal in the future, is that the weakest enterprise in the remotest region of Greece, be able to remain consistent in its implementation,” the trade unions said in the letter.