Measures of 900 million euros aiming to create 30,000 job positions

The Greek government drops the ball on the court of the industrial sector as to whether tits representatives will keep the job positions or continue with layoffs.

By PM Samaras’ order the Interministerial Commission for Industry, which met Friday with the participation of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), decided to proceed with the implementation of measures to improve the competitiveness of Greek enterprises in order to halt the shutdowns and layoffs.

However, although these measures reach approximately 900 million euros, a representative of the Greek industry sector avoided taking any commitment as to what effect they will have, saying that "that was already owed to us by the State."

The measures will be implemented in three areas:

- reduction in energy costs for businesses and households that use natural gas at 150 million euros

- reduction of employer contributions by 5% with a cost of 750 million euros. There already is a reduction of 1.1% leaving a 3.9% reduction which has not been decided whether it will come as a lump sum in 2014 or gradually at 1.3% annually until 2016. This measure can help create 30. 000 new jobs

- reduction of bureaucratic costs, acceleration of licensing and changes in land use

Among others, the meeting was attended by the ministers of Development Kostis Hadjidakis, Finance Ioannis Stournaras, Labour Yannis Vroutsis, Environment Yiannis Maniatis, Deputy Development minister Thanassis Skordas and SEV president Dimitris Daskalopoulos.