Insider / ΚΥΠΕ
The lack of human resources in some sectors of the economy, unemployment benefits in some seasonal sectors of the economy affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the adoption of a national minimum wage were the main issues discussed by the Minister of Labor, Welfare and Labor on Friday. Zeta Aimilianidou Insurance and the President of DISY Averof Neophytou.
Ms. Aimilianidou announced that she will have a meeting next Monday with the social partners to hear their views on avoiding the possibility of employees in the hotel industry, tourist areas and airports being left without income in the winter, while at the same time expressing the position of the Ministry of Labor to help companies cope with staff shortages, advocating the adoption of a national minimum wage.
Specifically, in statements after the meeting held at the Ministry of Labor, the President of DISY said that they discussed three important issues, such as the lack of human resources in some sectors of the economy, unemployment in some seasonal sectors of the economy that due to Covid-19 are needed specific decisions, such as workers in the hotel industry, airport handling (ground services) and travel agencies, and information on a decent minimum wage.
“I was completely satisfied with all three issues”, said Mr. Neophytou, while sending the message that “the Minister is determined through the social dialogue to give the right solutions for the three big issues” that have been discussed today.
Mr. Neophytou said that he once again noted the practicality, determination and readiness of the Minister to provide solutions to the problems.
Ms. Aimilianidou said that she has been discussing with the President of DISY for several days an issue such as “the anxiety of thousands of employees in the hotel industry, in the tourist areas, at the airports, who while for a long time received 60% of salary “without working overtime, they now care if they will have 60% of the 60% they received.”
“We had several discussions with the President of DISY to see how we can resolve this issue,” said the Minister, while announcing that “we are in the final stage.”
Ms. Aimilianidou said that she has invited all the social partners for next Monday to hear their own views because the important thing, as she said, “is not to be left without an employee during the winter”.
On the issue of lack of human resources in companies, the Minister said that she had meetings with the social partners and is waiting for their requests to be grouped “and to find areas of work where there is indeed a shortage of staff”.
“Our position is that we will help businesses because it does not mean that there are tasks and that no one can perform them because there is no staff,” he added.
Regarding the issue of the adoption of a national minimum wage, Ms. Aimilianidou thanked the President of DISY for the support, as she said, “in this great reform that the country needs”.
“There must be decent wages that can meet the needs of workers but at the same time, without affecting companies to a degree where unemployment will now rise,” he said, adding that “from 2019 we had carried out the necessary studies to adopt a national minimum wage in a rational way “.
Ms. Neophytou said that the national minimum wage is a substantial reform and DISY fully supports it, adding that “our vision for the country and the employees can never be limited to the minimum wage”.
“We ensure that every employee can only get the minimum wage, but our vision for employees is that the economy can produce jobs that get (the employee) much, much more than the minimum wage,” he added.
