Clash over hazardous occupations
The General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) is threatening to withdraw from the dialogue of social partners on the issue of arduous and hazardous occupations. Its president, Yiannis Panagopoulos (photo, center), voiced his union’s opposition to the government’s intention to table an amendment in Parliament allowing the employment minister to draw up the relevant list of professions. He also branded ‘unacceptable’ the decision of the committee set up to examine the issue, which categorized the professions but retained pension privileges for only 5 percent of them. ‘We request a scientific, not political, explanation for the exclusion of these professions,’ said Panagopoulos.