For some years now the Greek economy shows significant growth. Recently, however, Greece is faced with “with a phenomenon that has long been a problem in several member states of the EU: there is a labor force shortage, especially in the tourism, agricultural, construction and health sectors”observes Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

“During the 1990s but also during the first decade of the 21st century, Greece met its needs for cheap labor mainly from neighboring Albania – but this reservoir is now largely empty. Many Albanians have been financially rehabilitated in Greece and are now self-employed. Or they move to other EU member states where they can make more money. And it doesn’t appear anywhere that things will get better – quite the opposite.”

The Greek government is now seeking to “address the labor shortage in the private sector, ending up in agreements with Asian states”, she continues FAZ In this government plan, “India also plays a key role, with which Athens has been seeking an economic and political rapprochement for some time. […] Besides, a closer cooperation with India would also be a counterweight to China’s strong activity in Greece, which has been gaining more and more weight for 15 years. As he informed Prime Minister Mitsotakis last month, is going to immediately conclude an agreement with India for the attraction of workers, which will regulate the migration of simple and skilled Indian labor to Greece”.

According to the above, the labor shortage is a serious problem in both the Balkan states, as well as southern and central Europe, even affecting Germany. In the case of Greece, “if the government’s plan is crowned with success, then in the coming years the Indian and Vietnamese elements, as well as the Filipino, perhaps the Pakistani, will be much more intense in Greece. Tsuch economic policy solutions may also bring some socio-political challenges – but that is another matter,” concludes the Frankfurt paper.