Kerameus talks to ERT about new labour bill and ministry's aims

Workers are in a stronger position in today's labour market, Labour and Social Security Minister Niki Kerameus asserted in an interview with the public broadcaster ERT programme 'Press Talk'.

During the interview, broadcast on Monday, Kerameus pointed out that unemployment has dropped to 8% from 20% a few years ago, making it much easier for someone to find a job and making it harder for businesses to find employees.

Talking about the new labour bill, Kerameus said this had two main pillars, aiming to support workers, on the one hand, and to simplify and modernise the labour market, on the other hand.

"The bill has certainly been discussed a lot but only about one of its provisions, not the other 87. I say this because, in my opinion, it contains very important provisions that support workers," she said, citing a measure allowing parents to work four days a week throughout the week, or increasing the potential beneficiaries of maternity benefits by easing eligibility requirements.

Regarding the provision allowing 13-hour days for the same employer, she stressed that this did not abolish the eight-hour day and only allowed 13-hours of work for up to 37 days in a year and up to three days in every month. She also pointed out that people could already work up to 13 hours in a day, but only at two or more separate employers, whereas now they would also get a 40% pay hike for the extra hours.

The minister also spoke about the measures taken to lower unemployment and bring back Greeks who had emigrated to work abroad, while she also referred to the importance of legal migration to cover labour shortages and maintain growth.