NEWS

Greeks top undeclared job league

When it comes to moonlighting, Greeks are second to none in the 25-member European Union, according to a study by the European Commission that was made public in Brussels yesterday. The Commission study estimated that undeclared work in Greece accounts for over 20 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product – which is estimated at around 165 billion euros. Lithuania ranked second, at 15-19 percent. At the other end of the spectrum, the corresponding figure for Austria was 1.5 percent of GDP, and 2 percent of GDP in Britain. The study established that undeclared work, which the Commission defined as «productive activities that are lawful but not declared to the public authorities,» is most frequently encountered in the construction sector. Agriculture and the hotel and restaurant business come next, followed by personal and domestic services. On average in the EU, most undeclared work is undertaken by men aged 25-45. «A policy mix of preventive measures and sanctions is needed to crack the problem,» the Commission said.

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