Workers’ rights a top priority for the government, labour minister says

Tackling the consequences of the pandemic on workers is of the utmost importance for the government, Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou said on Saturday in a speech marking May Day.

The past 14 months “have been very difficult for society and in particular, employees, whether they be hospital workers and everyone working to protect our health or workers in essential services and services that help the public, such as those working in construction who have been strongly affected by the consequences of the pandemic’s crisis.”

The government and labour ministry have made helping employees a top priority through a series of measures aimed at containing unemployment and providing income support, Emilianidou said.

Their aim is that workers’ rights are not affected and to that end, the inspection service which came into force in December 2020 has largely contributed.

She assured that the government will continue to work for a “fair, productive and prosperous society, as well as the protection of the human right to work.”