Package for small businesses
Employment and Social Security Minister Fani Palli-Petralia announced yesterday a program of 100 million euros to bolster employment and maintain jobs in small and very small enterprises. After meeting with representatives of the General Confederation of Small Manufacturers and Traders (GSEBEE) and the National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE), Petralia suggested that the plan concerns 50,000 workers and enterprises that employ between one and 49 people. «The amount given for each employee will range from 1,000 to 3,000 euros, under the condition that each enterprise retains these jobs for 18 months from the start of the program,» said the minister. ESEE President Dimitris Armenakis expressed his satisfaction with the announcement and noted that applications by enterprises will start to be submitted by the end of the month, in a process without bureaucratic obstacles «so as to have it completed rapidly.»