Press Releases

STABLE BUT CRITICAL SITUATION OF THE GREEK ECONOMY

GREAT EXHIBITION OF MICRO BUSINESS ON IMPACT OF LITOTITAS, YPERCHREOSIS RISKS & UNCERTAINTY OF THE ECONOMIC POLICY

H relative stabilization achieved in the economy in the period from 2014 till today contains largely stagnant elements deGRAFIMAdomenou that incorporates both cyclical and structural characteristics of the crisis. This is because the austerity policy remains at the heart of economic policy as a mechanism of “consolidation” private and public sector; despite the failure of previous years- while preventing or delaying investment initiatives in dynamic sectors of the Greek economy, which will potentially attributed to proliferating a different macro environment more friendly to development. In addition, the uncertainty of the situation with respect to the results of trading accentuate their fears and risks, which become greater for vulnerable small businesses and self-employed.

The full implementation of the first package recessionary measures (increasing taxes on islands, an increase in excise taxes, increased tax earnings factor) and the expectation of vote and applying a second elongated austerity program seems inhibitory effect on growth prospects, which is already reflected in the recent ELSTAT estimate for growth of the Greek economy (fourth quarter 2016, -1.4% compared to the same quarter of 2015). Similarly, no dramatic changes are expected in the first half of 2017, unless mediate important exogenous basically, developments in the economy. With existing data, the forecast scenario for GDP growth above 2.5% in 2017 appears to be realistic.

The business, after seven years of Understanding, adapted to repeat prospects of yet another cycle of fiscal adjustment and austerity, which will run the next 3-4 years. In this context, business strategy becomes a survival strategy, even for those companies that are dynamic and have the conditions for further development.

Although it is clear that the timely completion of the second evaluation will contribute to the normalization of economic klimatos-, its benefits are not expected to diffuse readily throughout the business community. Indeed, more than four in five SMEs are exposed to credit risk, present economic downturn and shrinking work with and not extend the horizon. The economic dualism running through the spectrum of the real economy, has caused intense competitive pressures on small businesses while consolidating flexible forms of work and atypical employment and occupation.

Research IME GSEBEE demonstrates once again that the reduced liquidity, the investment gap and weak financing capacity are dominant problems for businesses, and interwoven with the void of final consumption caused by direct or indirect shrinking incomes and withdrawal of the state. At the same time, private funding and appropriate modern financial tools are absent, while limited the possibilities of mobilizing investment flows through public investment programs remain insufficient.

The smooth functioning of the financial system is also an important parameter to restore the economic climate in a positive trajectory. Red loans to banks amounted to 107.8 billion (Bank of Greece, Annual Report 2016) while total overdue debts to tax authorities and social security funds exceed 120 billion. This means that you should be accelerated initiatives for more effective management of private debt (extrajudicial mechanism, code of conduct, acceleration of justice) without additional bureaucracy, complex mechanisms and inclusive business.

Regarding the quantitative easing program Eur. Central Bank estimated that the inclusion of Greek bonds will mainly be a reset signal of the creditworthiness of the economy, despite a substantial intervention that will boost the real economy and small businesses. However, macroeconomic improvement of the position of the country inevitably linked to the final settlement of medium-term debt, change in European economic policy and termination of various extreme scenarios for expulsion of the country from the eurozone.

In this context declaratory back in the news as international experts and analysts positions expressed in the past – in fact some of them come from the ranks of official creditors of the country (IMF, ECB, European institutes) – who had warned Europe’s political leaders, the IMF, the ECB and the Greek government on the need for effective debt restructuring before the implementation of adjustment programs. The need to restructure the debt reworked 5th Interim Report recently published by the Budget Office of Parliament entitled ‘debt trap’, which seeks to analyze the negative influence that the recycling of debt on growth prospects. Since the beginning of the crisis and the entry into the support mechanism, the IME GSEBEE was reported to need for timely adjustment of the financial obligations in the medium and long level before the implementation of frontloaded adjustment program, which while imposed fiscal discipline terms, eventually undermined any investment perspective, canceling some positive aspects of the program.

The next time the government is requested to take initiatives, within the limited financial and political space available to a) reduce in the medium term the tax burden, especially for small businesses b) to correct certain perverse aspects of the new insurance, particularly in middle income brackets c) to put in place an effective framework for managing red loans and liabilities d) to use all the financial opportunities that generate new investment and jobs Employment.

The Federation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants Magnesia notify the press release of the General Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants on: “To restore free collective bargaining and the validity of social dialogue.”

O Social dialogue and especially the restoration of free collective bargaining constitutes a developmental and structural prerequisite condition for the recovery of the Greek economy.

Besides the social dialogue between employers and employees is a central feature of the European social model and recognized institution consulted by the European Union Treaty and validated by the country International Labor Conventions. Especially in a time of crisis like this that we experience, international experience has shown that social dialogue can contribute to the formulation of creative and innovative responses and to promote a more balanced and recovery without discrimination.

In recent years, the policy pursued aimed at inactivating the social dialogue and the de facto abolition of collective bargaining as a condition of development. According to this view, social dialogue and the active contribution of the social partners in this process are treated as an obstacle to the deregulation of the market, the decline in labor costs and ultimately create cheap labor. Cheap labor and the absence of ‘intermediate’ collectives are, according to this reasoning, basic prerequisites shaping an environment conducive to attracting foreign investment. However no such result is not reached. Instead multiple interventions of the state collective bargaining system, such as the intervention in the content and the universality of the National General Collective Labor Agreement, the weakening of sectoral bargaining level and the expansion of institutions of the effects (expansion), are reasons for the dramatic changes suffered by the real economy in Greece. The collapse of collective bargaining which dragged the overall wage level had a direct impact on disposable income, domestic consumption and ultimately to an increase in unemployment. At the same time creates conditions of unfair competition with negative effects, especially for the most healthy companies.

For GSEBEE restoring free collective bargaining is a matter of priority and a necessary prerequisite for the development of the economy, smoothness in the labor market and preserving social cohesion.

The Federation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants Magnesia notify the letter sent by the General Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Euclid Tsakalotos and reported to the Prime Minister on the coercive requirement of OPAP SA for signing a new contract until 03.24.2017.

The GSEBEE letter to the Minister of Finance as follows:

The sector of OPAP agents, like most professions in our country have suffered heavily from the consequences of the economic crisis and the implementation of the policy of internal devaluation. It is characteristic that in recent years the turnover of OPAP agents declines about 40%. The transfers, as a result of the dramatic drop in turnover, have received snowball dimensions as 1 in 3 agencies have changed ownership. Moreover the profit of the agencies are very limited because of the dramatic tax increases. O branch of OPAP Agents, which counts thousands of family businesses of the highest tax and social contribution, no recent months irresistible pressure against the business strength of the OPAP, sa 100% plus private interests.

The GSEBEE believes that the current issue is not simply an issue compounded over the narrow context of the business relationship of a company with its network of partners. This is an issue of national importance, as the lawful operation of the monopoly right of OPAP SA and ensuring that that according to the jurisprudence of national and Community courts could be achieved only through the exercise adequate supervision and control by the competent independent authority (Control and Supervision of Gambling Commission – E.E.E.P .), just set up for this purpose. The transfer to OPAP’s exclusive right to conduct gambling in Greek territory and in this monopoly, which is currently the tolerance of European legal order requires ensuring strict supervision and control and other servicing of the control target and reducing spread of gambling. The new contracts coercively imposed by the company they serve but contradict these terms, without invoking any overriding Public Interest speech. OPAP SA having as a pretext the ‘Agents Regulations “of C.S.C.G. exercised abusively responsibilities and intervene in areas which by law belong exclusively to the independent authority. The result is that the properties of the controller and the controlled come together in one and the same person, the OPAP, i.e. a aggressively profit corporation 100% private interests.

As is known, the expansionist policy of OPAP already has caused the European Commission’s reaction, which requires revision of the regulatory framework for VLTs (Regulation of another C.S.C.G November 2016 – Official Gazette B 3528 / 01.11. 2016) and calls for abstaining from the application.

The GSEBEE understands that OPAP exploiting manifest as apparent lack of adequate oversight and review by all relevant competent authorities, including mainly for that purpose specifically authorized C.S.C.G. unfairly such as extrajudicial and extortion requires signing new contracts, which include a number of illegal and abusive conditions and constitute an abuse of monopoly position, the Greek government has been entrusted, even in excess of the wide limits of from ONEM said Regulation. The logic of “Sign new contracts until 03/24/2017 or find another job” may not be a viable option and choice. The abuse of yperdespozousas position of the company, which seeks to change the terms of the contract without substantial negotiations with the representative bodies is a pure blackmail, who disrupts one of the components of the concept of OPAP’s monopoly that is socially controlled, exclusive and pure network.

The General Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants requests your intervention to meet commitments before the Committee on Institutions and Transparency of the Parliament and put limits to expansionary policy of OPAP. In such a difficult economic situation for the whole of Greek society, only through the negotiation of stakeholders, can be arranged, viable, issues such as the supply, the settings on the rights of Agents, opening hours, transfers etc. We should once again be remembered that the monopoly entails increased responsibilities and not promiscuity through an illegal regulation and a Leonteio contract, which acquired plunder and profiteering at the expense Agents. Here memorandums with all the changes requested in the new contract.

We ask your immediate intervention in the fight to protect the community and our legal rights, and the prevalence of illegality and restore constitutional order.

MEMORANDUM

The new contract radically alter their current relationship with OPAP, entering:

Guaranteed reducing the supply by 2021. further reducing the supply of an unknown amount of from 2021 onwards.
Obligation Agency relocation if OPAP require it, without assuming that the relocation costs. Specifically, it provided that OPAP ‘can cover the cost of relocation Agent, considering each case separately, retaining the costs of Supply Agent “(see Art. 5 par. 9 of the new contract). At the same time there is no compensation for the infrastructure costs allocated to the old and agency customers lost.
Obligation renovation Agency configuration or additional equipment market, still in accordance with the respective requirements of the OPAP.
Obligation to change with the same charge type Agency, eg by placing VLTs, the cost of which will cover the Agent, but if we do not achieve specific turnovers, OPAP holds the right to remove without covering the cost burden.
your obligation to accept that OPAP has the right to hand in an agency, whatever games you want, and to date has single brokerage license all games
Obligation coverage of telecommunications infrastructure cost to install OPAP terminals where you play straight players without release. Note that the new telecommunications line is certainly very expensive bill.
Obligation cover entirely the cost of the new telecommunications line without more commitment OPAP participate by 30% in the cost, as have done to date.
Obligation customer training for competitive online now conducting OPAP games.
Abolishing the right transfer agency to others. Allowed limited and only in cases of death, disability and retirement.
Leveraging OPAP reasons and possibilities for termination of your contract without compensation.
Agreement expressly provided, in advance, any changes / alteration / addition to the contract (unknown what) like lead unilaterally or OPAP, in order to serve the same interests or those of other companies wanted work in the future (unknown what).
And the most important,

Remove the clear provision that exists in the existing contract, that agents are the only natural OPAP network. It can OPAP ie to create parallel and physical agents network will naturally compete with the existing one.
It is obvious that the acceptance of these terms creates serious sustainability problems of the vast majority of agencies. At the same time it is illegal and abusive conditions in their entirety.