SEV backs out of marriage benefit deal
The marriage allowance has been spared from cuts to workers’ earnings, according to a new national collective labor contract agreed on Tuesday by the General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) and three out of the country’s four main employer associations, with the exception of the Federation of Hellenic Enterprises (SEV).
The agreement has taken the form of a collective labor contract even though it does not bind industrialists that are SEV members due to the federation’s refusal to commit in writing to paying the allowance. The deal is also not binding for employers who are not members of the associations that agreed to it – i.e. the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen & Merchants (GSEVEE), the National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce (ESEE) and the Association of Hellenic Tourism Enterprises (SETE).
The 10 percent addition to salaries for married employees is therefore protected until December 31, 2013, and applies retroactively from January 1, 2013, with the option for an extension of the agreement for one more year upon the verbal agreement of the signatories.
