One of the longest – standing and most debated issues affecting governance and the economy in Greece came in the spotlight on Wednesday, when the Tsipras government introduced legislation that effectively promises the hiring of thousands of people in government positions.
For years, a large part of the needs in the public sector were covered by employees who are under temporary, short-term contracts, who have been campaigning for years to be hired in permanent, full-time positions.
So far, the law saw that temporary contracts of people employed from November 2016 onward could not be renewed for more than 24 months and not before a three month pause in between. Now the coalition of Syriza and Independent Greeks abolished this provision, effectively promising those civil servants a quasi-permanent employment. Defending the decision, Alternate Health Minister Pavlos Polakis argued that there are a lot of specific increased needs in the public sector which have to be met by contract workers, due to legal restrictions on permanent hiring.
All parties of the opposition were against this amendment, which critics of the leftist government deem to be an election tactic from the governing party’s part.