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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-26Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Karamanlis briefed by ministers over bank strike, extended shop hours decisionPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis was briefed by two of his government's top ministers on Saturday over ongoing reactions -- mostly by trade unions and certain chambers -- to a pair of crucial reforms unveiled this month, namely, banking sector pension reform and lengthier store hours.Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis and Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas, respectively, briefed the prime minister on an ongoing strike by the bank employees' union and reactions to the extended store hours by chamber officials representing mostly smaller shops and stores. Although most private banks have been unaffected by the two-week strike, called by the OTOE union, higher turnout at the state-run National, Emporiki and ATEbank financial institutions has caused problems with pension and unemployment payments, whereas check clearances are also backing up. The government, nevertheless, has stood firm over its closely watched decision to shift bank employees into the primary state-run Social Security Foundation (IKA) and to create a framework for unifying individual supplementary funds in the sector. A standardised 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. shop hours schedule throughout Greece -- longer if judged necessary in tourist areas -- is also considered by the government as a breakthrough step aimed at creating new jobs and increasing retail sector turnover. Merchants, however, will not be obliged to open for the maximum 12 hours allowed. Additionally, the government has repeatedly stated that Sunday will remain a holiday for businesses. [02] Euro50 Group organisation co-hosts Athens eventThe aftermath of the separate 'no' votes in France and the Netherlands against the draft European constitution was the focus of an event on Saturday in the Greek capital organised by the Euro50 Group and the Athens-based think tank Inerpost, entitled "EMU: Prospects and Challenges for a New Economic Architecture".Addressing delegates, Euro50 Group president Edmond Alphandery said his group's annual conference covered monetary policy and the EU's internal governance. On his part, Deputy Economy Minister Petros Doukas briefly cited a handful of the major problems facing the Union, namely, unemployment, low growth rate and stagnant investments Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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