NEWS

Greek unions rail against business rules overhaul

Greek unions rail against business rules overhaul

More than 2,000 striking municipal workers have marched to Greece’s Parliament to protest a planned overhaul of business and licensing rules by the new conservative government.

Protesters briefly scuffled with police on Thursday after challenging a cordon outside the Parliament building, but no arrests were reported.

The three-month-old government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says the reforms will simplify regulations and boost investment as Greece emerges from a protracted financial crisis.

But unions argue that longstanding workers’ rights will be eroded, including the right to negotiate pay through collective bargaining with employers.

The municipal strike disrupted garbage collection and other services in Athens and elsewhere. Two more protest marches are planned Thursday ahead of a vote in Parliament on the draft legislation, which is expected to pass. [AP]

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