OAED, the Three Opportunities and Hatzidakis in the “plantations” of the South

The tourism “cotton fields” are facing a labor shortage. You see, for some strange reason, workers don’t want to work 12–13 hours a day during the summer, 6 or 7 days a week. So the OAED is pressuring the unemployed by cutting their unemployment benefits.

How will that work?;

Each worker indicates the type of work they prefer, and then the OAED—which will be renamed the Public Employment Service—takes on the task of finding a job for the unemployed person. If he refuses to work three times, he is removed from the Unemployment Registry for two years and his benefits are suspended for six months. You'll work wherever Hatzidakis tells you to—in a nutshell. If they offer you a training program and you refuse, your benefits will be suspended again. This isn’t just a fiscal tactic to secure funds. We’ve seen how they cut funding from everyone except themselves.

Welcome to the “cotton fields” of the South (of Europe)

The main thing is that they’re eager to staff the “tourism ”plantations”, which They are lining their pockets at the expense of workers, at the expense of the 8-hour workday, at the expense of the five-day workweek, and at the expense of every labor demand which was won through hard work and bloodshed.

The owners of these “plantations” have already taken over the TV channels and are complaining that they can’t find workers willing to accept wage slavery. «We can’t find cooks, we can’t find waiters, we can’t find unskilled workers.».

Why can't they find them? Because they don't pay them! As labor unions have quite rightly pointed out, so they have to live in shacks, basements, and shipping containers, just to survive the winter.

Workers—and especially young workers—who, on the one hand, struggle to pay their rent in the «high-end» —which are, in reality, completely run-down—areas of major cities, and on the other hand face the threat of electricity companies hanging over their heads, inflation, and, above all, the government itself, either he will back down and accept slavery, or he will fight for his dignity.

The most insidious aspect of the Hatzidakis bill, is the «The mechanism for identifying labor market needs is being upgraded so that training and employment programs can meet the actual needs of the market».

In other words, efforts are being made to create an oversupply of labor in certain fields, especially those related to tourism, so that daily wages will fall even further. Because right now, a worker preparing for the season won’t say the much-desired «yes» for less than 1,800–2,000 euros a month. The issue and the challenge of “”Minister’s Cotton Planting Organizer” However, the plan is to do this within three years for 700 euros plus lodging. At the same time, they will make the national work plan mandatory under SEPE!

We used to say we were Europe’s waiters, and that’s exactly what we are.

In practice, the «needs of the market» are the needs of the “landowner.”. By a tourism entrepreneur, looking for cheap labor that will increase his superprofits. With fewer employees working longer hours. At a time when the Collective Bargaining Agreements They got lost in the red tape of the Memoranda they signed but didn’t read, a potential failure of the tourist season in terms of service quality would be the final nail in its coffin the most unsuccessful government since the restoration of democracy.

What do you want? Snow? You're stuck.
Hot? You're burned.
Rain? You're in trouble.
Pandemic? Greece leads in deaths.
Energy? Greece leads the way in price hikes.
The economy? Inflation will wipe us all out, just as it has done to our savings.
Do you want a welfare state? Benefits are being cut. Disability, unemployment—you name it.

Amid the general gloom, the new OAED—now known as DYPA—will enter the real estate market to purchase large numbers of plots of land and apartments.

Do you understand what's going to happen?;

Rising demand will drive prices even higher. If short-term rental services like Airbnb have driven rental prices to astronomical heights, just imagine what would happen if the OAED’s 1.5 billion were to enter the real estate market.

We’re not talking about how the «blue-collar kids» will get tired of building apartment buildings with 50 square meters per apartment and 40 apartments per building. We’re not talking about “their own” real estate agents who will become filthy rich overnight. Where they'll be selling shacks at exorbitant prices, in a magnificent bubble created by contractors.

They can't accept it, It challenges the neoliberals« »reality"—that workers should have a decent wage and affordable housing. They’re the ones who have to find us jobs, they’re the ones who have to find us a place to live, they’re the ones who have to sell us electricity, water, and whatever infrastructure hasn’t been sold yet—and we’re supposed to thank them.

«It is also provided that the Agency may collaborate with public or private entities to construct real estate, with the aim of promoting government policies regarding housing protection for the workforce and young people.» All private, all in the hands of the big sharks behind this idiotic initiative.

To those looking for seasonal work:

YOU set their salaries. They are not appointed by the owner of the “plantation.”.
If you say a resounding "no" to the 12-hour shift, more workers will be hired.
If you turn down 1,400 euros a month (1,400 to 2,200 is the pay for working 7 days a week, 10–14 hours a day), they’ll be forced to offer you more.
If you say no to six- and seven-day work weeks, they'll have no choice but to make you work five days.

If you say no to the containers, they'll have to provide you with a room.
Otherwise, leave. There are too many of you, and they have to cover multiple positions. They’re complaining on all the TV stations and channels that they can’t hire employees who speak Greek and English.

Your «no’s» have more power right now than ever before. You need to recognize this, believe in yourself, your worth, and your work.. And the Labor Inspectorate will be there for you. They are serious people and won't leave you hanging.

Brief Biography of Labor Minister Hatzidakis: 1987–1989 Secretary of DAP-NDFK, 1989–1990 Member of the New Democracy Political Planning Secretariat, 1991–1992 Master’s degree in England, 1992–1994: President of ONNED; 1994–2007: New Democracy Member of the European Parliament; 2007–2021: Member of Parliament and Minister for New Democracy. Now, after the Olympic Broadcasting Corporation and the Public Power Corporation, you’re preparing to destroy the EFKA (your pensions) and the OAED (your job opportunities).

By Sophocles Archontakis