Adonis Georgiadis, the Minister of Labor and Social Security, described as hypocritical the opposition’s criticism of the plan to “strengthen work – Incorporation of Directive (EU) 2019/1152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 20, 2019 – Simplification of digital processes and strengthening of Work Card – Upgrading the operational operation of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the Labor Inspectorate” during its processing at the Social Affairs Committee.

Mr. Georgiadis emphasized that “this bill wants us to put on paper, things that have been in place for a long time in the labor market and which until now were done illegally, leading the world to “black” work, to the “black” economy and the State to turn a blind eye and pretend that it doesn’t see them” He categorically stated that “the 8-hour shift is not abolished. The five-day week is not abolished” and he added that “we cannot hear buzzwords that have nothing to do with reality”

The minister remarked to the Opposition MPs that “when the criticism that is made is outside of reality, society does not follow”. And he wondered “what are the reactions of society if really this bill is as bad as you describe it and abolishes the five-day week or the Sunday holiday”.

Mr. Georgiadis, commenting on the fire received by the provision for the possibility of working for more employers, stated that “it is a case of “great hypocrisy”, and indeed with the first journalists who write articles about “Georgiadis in the Middle Ages”, when they themselves are the ones working at the same time to more than two and three employers”! This article of the bill, the minister said, “emanates from the Directive” and “is in my opinion very much in favor of the employee” as “when an employee has a second job it is not only a matter of increasing his income, but he acquires a stronger bargaining power against the employer, making the employer extremely cautious in his behavior for fear of losing the employee who has another “door””. This, he said, Mr. Georgiadis “is what the workers understood, which is why this article had the most positive comments in the consultation.” The minister called on the MPs of the Opposition to “don’t be so hypocritical, as if you don’t know from those around you how many of these workers are today making a “trip”, which is “black”. On the contrary, with this arrangement, the minister said, what we are doing is “instead of the employee working “black” and uninsured, we make it “white”, so that the employee is insured, receives a larger pension and can justify the expenses from his income. At the same time, the business will be legal and will not be at risk of fines, while EFKA will also receive more contributions.”

The minister, notice to the special buyer of PASOK-KINAL Giorgos Mulkiotis that “he made the most severe criticism of all the parties for the provision of the bill of the 12-month non-compensatory period, even saying that it violates the EU Charter of Workers’ Rights” reminding him that article 74 of Law 3862/2010 was passed before the Memoranda of Understanding, during the Prime Ministership of George Papandreou and with an autonomous PASOK government” and added that “the GSEE’s appeal that was made is for this Law of PASOK”. Mr. Georgiadis underlined that the European Directive provides for the trial period with regard to the Employment Contract, while the compensatory part is national legislation, which is why it is not the same in all States”.

Regarding the institutionalization of the “on-demand employment contract”, the minister said that it concerns companies that today irregularly maintain “lists of prospective employees who invite them to work on a case-by-case basis when they need them in order to take a “trip” which most of the time it is also “black”. Now, with the provision of the bill, it is legally possible for a company to enter into “custom” contracts. The employer agrees with the employees that there will be a minimum monthly hours that will occupy them. ¼ of the agreed hours will be guaranteed, meaning they will be paid whether they work or not. Also, if the employer calls an employee to work within 24 hours and the company cancels at the last minute, the employee will be paid normally and will have all labor benefits” The minister announced that he will add to the bill and the circular that will be issued that ” in case there is an interrupted working time of less than three hours, then the employee will also be paid for these waiting hours”. Mr. Georgiadis pointed out that “in the bill, the possibility of converting an employment relationship with a contract to order has been expressly prohibited as this constitutes a harmful change of employment relationship”.

Regarding the possibility provided to three critical branches such as that of water bottling to be able to have a 7-day work cycle, the minister explained that this does not mean that Sunday work is abolished. The workers in these businesses will continue to have five days and eight hours but it will be rolling, as workers in tourism, restaurants, kiosks or gas stations work today.

Referring to the article of the bill regarding the right to strike, Mr. Georgiadis argued that this is not abolished. Anyone who wants said “can strike freely and unhindered”, but what is foreseen is that “if someone, in the context of his trade union action, prevents the entry or exit of an employee who wants to work, this will constitute a criminal offense and attract the benefits of the law as well as a monetary fine according to a court decision”.

Regarding the upgrade of the Inspection to an Independent Authority, the minister said that this “does not mean that it escapes the operation of the State and can interpret the circulars or the Laws in its own way. The Government proposes bills to Parliament and Parliament passes the Laws that set the rules for what is legal and what is illegal. The Independent Authorities have independence for their control in the role of whether the Law is observed or not. The Independent Authorities do not legislate. Perfect.”

Regarding the provisions of the bill concerning Occupational Doctors, the minister said that “I do not want to abolish this specialty, on the contrary, I want them to have priority in recruitment and this will be added to the bill.” But there is a real problem as it is a specialty that is declining as it is not preferred by doctors as a specialty and the announcements come out barren. On the other hand, the Law provides that every company with more than 50 employees is obliged to have an Occupational Physician. We have, said the minister, “entire regions that do not have a single occupational physician” for this reason “we ask the Ministry of Health and KESY to find a solution when there is such a problem for an entire region”.

Mr. Georgiadis, commenting on the criticism leveled at the bill by the “right-wing” parties of the Opposition, said that “their criticism was more left-wing than that of the left-wing parties, I would say that it was socialist and indeed of the principles of socialism and not even of social democracy”. adding that this ideological counterpoint “is an interesting topic and our responsibility in the next period, to highlight this, that is, that these parties have nothing to do with the principles of the right but you are normal communists”.