Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Greece
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Public Administration And Defence
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security
Administration Of The State And The Economic And Social Policy Of The Community
84.11 - General public administration activities

3,000 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
10 October 2011
Employment effect (start)
10 October 2011
Foreseen end date
31 December 2011

Description

The restructuring of several Greek public custom offices will lead to 3,000 employees in labour reserve or dismissal. The process of merging and shutting down many of Greece's customs offices is to be seen in the context of the broader attempt to curb public spending in the fact of inspections by foreign creditors. The cuts were announced to being in mid-October 2011 according to the Ministry of Finance.

The first step of the restructuring will be the integration of 14 customs offices as well as dozens of smaller departments with the aim to reduce costs. This is said to be achieved through labour reserve measures (GR1109029I) and eventually dismissals. These changes will occur in all 50 customs control's units in the country.

The Federation of Greek Customs Employees and Officers, reacting to these announcements, declared a general strike and blocked access to Customs facilities. The action lasted from Friday 14th October to the 23rd October. Athens Court, following the announcement, declared their strike illegal and warned anyone insisting on continuing the strike to be fined with a 1,000 Euro penalty.


Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2011), Greek Customs Offices, Internal restructuring in Greece, factsheet number 72699, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/72699.