Vroutsis: Lockdown for companies with uninsured employees

Labour minister Yiannis Vroutsis warns companies employing uninsured workers about severe penalties and even closure.

Talking to the “Nea” newspaper, Vroutsis said that “the crisis cannot become an excuse for delinquency” and companies that get caught with undeclared staff will be punished with great rigor. "I will even close down businesses. To be strict, a State must first be just."

According to the Labour ministry, the first time that a company will be found employing undocumented workers it will have to pay specific fines. If the same company gets caught a second time having uninsured employees, it will be temporarily shut down, and in case of a third time it will be closed dowpermanently and have its license removed.

The ministerial decisions that will determine the framework of controls and penalties for those who employ uninsured workers, either Greeks or immigrants, are expected to be issued by the end of August.