“It is unbearable that the vast majority of employees will be the monthly burden from the price increases”, according to the results of a special thematic public opinion poll, published by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Labor Institute. in collaboration with the company Alco and is addressed to private sector employees for the recording-measurement and comparative evaluation of climate indicators regarding the evolution of wages, the security of their job and working time.
In addition, the present study records the views of employees on the magnitude of their burden from increases in energy prices and basic foodstuffs, as well as on ways to deal with the protection of their standard of living.
Specifically, according to the research:
“- 82% of employees state that their monthly household burden from increases in energy and basic food prices is expected to be ‘too high’ or ‘large’, with 14% assessing it as ‘small’ or “too small”.
– The above percentages differ when compared to the amount of their income. Employees with a monthly wage of up to 500 euros state 100% that they expect a very large charge, while 19% of those who declare a monthly wage of 1,500 euros or more state that they expect a very large charge and 54% a large charge.
– As the most effective means of protecting their standard of living from price increases, 48% choose to increase wages and the minimum wage, 43% choose to reduce excise and excise taxes, while only 3% choose the solution of benefits .
– The above percentages vary greatly depending on the amount of income of employees.
– Those who declare a monthly income of up to € 1,000 say, on average, 57% that the most effective measure to protect their standard of living from price increases is to increase wages and the minimum wage, and to reduce wages by an average of 39%. excise duties and excise duties.
– Those who declare a monthly income of 1,001 euros-1,500 euros, state at 42% that the most effective measure to protect their standard of living from price increases is to increase wages and the minimum wage and 53% to reduce excise duties and excise duties.
– Those who declare a monthly income of 1,501 euros or more, state at a rate of 18% that the most effective measure to protect their standard of living from price increases is to increase wages and the minimum wage and 82% to reduce excise duties and taxes consumption.
– Employees stated that, in order to ensure their standard of living, it is necessary to have significant increases in their nominal wages, which on average amount to 25%, (with variations depending on their income).
From the other findings of the research and to confirm the above findings, it is very important to differentiate the evolution of the wages of private sector employees in relation to the previous measurement (four months ago). The vast majority of private sector employees surveyed say they are pessimistic about the development of their wages at a rate of 61% compared to 49% recorded by this indicator in the previous measurement. This finding is considered very important, because it reflects a strong trend observed in the labor market in relation to the evolution of wages in the private sector of the economy. “
“Despite the fact that, since May, prices of imported and domestic products have shown a strong upward trend, which seems to continue for a long time, at the same time the minimum wage and wages remain stagnant.
It is necessary to implement a mixture of interventions immediately, in order to protect as much as possible the living standard of employees and especially the lowest paid. The Greek economy and society, after 10 years of austerity, are facing a new dangerous mixture of instability, as the wave of accuracy and price increases in basic goods and services and the stagnation of incomes threaten the purchasing power of many households and social groups. The duration of the accuracy and its non-compensation with effective interventions and measures to protect the disposable income will lead to a contraction of domestic demand, while it will increase the probability of occurrence of stagnant inflation phenomena “, the Confederation points out.
For these reasons, GSEE proposes the following income and budgetary interventions:
«- To give immediately the increase of the minimum wage for 2021 with retroactive effect from 1/9/2021.
– To start immediately the negotiations for the increase of the minimum wage for 2022, so that its change will take effect from 1/1/2022.
– The percentage increase of the minimum wage to be transferred to the nominal wages of the already agreed sectoral contracts.
– Reduce excise duties on energy. If the measure is not enough to stabilize prices and income losses, reduce VAT on energy for households.
– Introduce a tax on the extraordinary profits of energy supply companies and allocate the amount to support the disposable income of households.
“Define a grace period for repaying energy bills for the poorest households.”
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