ILO : Prolonged Social crisis and high unemployment in Greece November 2014
Greece is at a critical crossroad and will be faced with prolonged social crisis unless steps are taken to reverse the situation, says a report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for Greece.
The ILO study, which was presented yesterday at a special event at Zappeion in Athens, estimates that in 2014 the Greek economy has shrunk by 25% compared to 2008, while since the beginning of the crisis one in four jobs has been lost.
This results in the 70% of the total of almost 1.3 million unemployed being without work for more than a year and several, for two years or more.
According to ILO, within five years the number of Greeks who are at risk of poverty has more than doubled. In 2013 this figure exceeded 44%, while in 2008 barely exceeded 20%.
Under these circumstances, ILO argues that even if the growth rate is 2%, it will take 13 years to bring the greek economy to the levels they were before the crisis
Accordingly, even at an annual rate of employment growth of 1.3%, the labor market will be able to return to 2008 levels in 2034.
ILO asks to halt the policy of wage reductions and to take urgent measures to support jobs and businesses, after an agreement among the government, employers and workers.
In the med-term, ILO proposes the implementation of an “integrated strategy for growth and job creation and is willing to work with the Greek government and the social partners, as well as the European Commission”. ( Eugreeka Nov 2014)
Greece tops ‘poverty league’ in Europe.
A Study published in July 2014 shows the percentage of the population living on or below the poverty line has increased by 25% since 2010. Just over one third of Greeks ( 34.6%)- some 3,795,100 people were living on less than 60% of the national median income in 2013. Read more here
Greeks work longer hours than anyone else in Europe.
The Office for National Statistics ‘ data published in December 2011 shows that Greek workers put in longer hours than anyone else in Europe — 42.2 per week, compared to just 35.6 in Germany. If you look at full-time figures, it is even starker. The data explodes the crude national stereotypes of prudent hard working Germans and lazy Greeks. See more here.
Greek labour costs have been cut drastically and are now half Eurozone average.
The cost of employing someone in Greece fell by one fifth between 2008 and 2013. Greece’s hourly labour costs now rank 16th out of 28 countries: in Greece, it costs on average €13.60 to employ someone per hour, half of the European Union average of €23.70. See full details here
The health check on the Greek Manufacturing sector is deceptive.
Greece’s output rose for the first time since summer 2009, according to data published in early February 2014. Larry Elliot of The Guardian reports:
‘Greece, the classic example of it taking more than one swallow to make a summer. The slight pick-up in manufacturing shows that the flipside to the wage and welfare cuts that have caused a 1930s-style Depression is a slightly more competitive export sector. But the cost continues to be enormous. A 20% contraction in the economy has led to deflation. Deflation increases the real value of Greece’s debts. That means another bailout in the short term. And, when that fails, a debt restructuring.’ For the full article click here