The owner of the beach bar in Rhodes described the incident with the waiter who almost swam to serve the customers as an “isolated event”, noting that it was his choice in order to get pour-boir.

He, in his written statement to OPEN, said: “I have been a businessman for 27 years and I have never had a single complaint. Everyone asks to come and work in my shops, because they know that I pay well and the working atmosphere is very good. Is it possible for the employee to do something like this by force?’

He continued, without saying about the specific employee: “He has been my petty employee for five years. It’s an isolated event and he did it to get his “lucky” (tip). This kid gets a salary of 3,000 euros a month and if his client ordered a strong pour-over, he went in to get it. This suit is waterproof, but I know the video was posted by a fake competitor profile who wanted to harm me and tarnish my business.”

Regarding the Labor Inspectorate that carried out an inspection, the owner of the business said: “10 inspectors came here in the afternoon and found everything legal and inspections have been done by the port and they did not find any violation of the law. As for the side tables, they go in and out, it’s not abuse. The inspectors asked the workers if I force them to enter the sea and they told them that they do it for a better porter and suddenly I find myself being blamed because no one ever has anything to say about me. Now the case has passed into the hands of my lawyer. I don’t want to make another statement, but my employee will tell you the same.”

Referring to the incident, the Minister of Labor, Adonis Geogiadis, speaking on Sunday morning to SKAI, said that the intervention was immediate, however, the violation is not easily confirmed as the worker supported the company’s practice, because it gave him a bigger bonus.

But, Mr. Georgiadis added, this is not an image of decent work.

He spoke to SKAI 100.3 about a jungle image that does not honor the country and the industry Giorgos Hotzogloupresident of the Panhellenic Federation of Food and Tourism Workers.

He said that in the inspection carried out yesterday at the company, no violation was confirmed because according to the provisions there is no provision that says that the specific way of serving is prohibited.

He pointed out, however, that what is of great importance, and from which some violation may arise, is the control that will be done tomorrow, for the health and safety of the employee.

Mr. Hotzoglou mentioned the fact that the two ministers, Labor and Shipping, intervened as a positive aspect of the case.

He emphasized, however, that there is no control mechanism as the independent authority, the former SEPE, “is so understaffed that the people who make it up cannot do their jobs.”

Mr. Hotzoglou specifically referred to the case of Mykonos, Santorini and Paros, where there is no scope for work and in order to file a complaint, one would have to go to Syros.

In the prefecture of Rethymno, he emphasized that there was only one inspector, who, when she is absent, is replaced by the doorman of the building.

And in Rhodes, “until last summer the head of the Service was waiting for the decision to retire and did not move from his office”.
“All this has contributed to having black, undeclared or falsely declared work in the sector,” he said.