CJ Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 It really saddens me to see my previously adopted country in such a mess and this short clip really shows how much pain and suffering the average worker is having to go through due to the crazy previous government regimes. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17202274 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Very sad indeed Col This must have been brewing for years though - was it that the Government/s in the past didn't want to deal with the financials or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraAyf Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Source: The NewYork Times ATHENS — Vasia Veremi may be only 28, but as a hairdresser in Athens, she is keenly aware that, under a current law that treats her job as hazardous to her health, she has the right to retire with a full pension at age 50. “I use a hundred different chemicals every day — dyes, ammonia, you name it,” she said. “You think there’s no risk in that?” “People should be able to retire at a decent age,” Ms. Veremi added. “We are not made to live 150 years.” Perhaps not, but it is still difficult to explain to outsiders why the Greek government has identified at least 580 job categories deemed to be hazardous enough to merit retiring early — at age 50 for women and 55 for men. One of several contributing factors, admittedly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Greece did what most people have done... blew all budgets and went on a massive debt fueled spending spree! Starting with the Olympics... hugely over-budget and all funded through debt! They were well over the EU limit of 30% debt to yearly GDP. Is it right that the people suffer because of the idiots at the top? Definitely not... and a shame to see. Some of the article I have read are horrific!! Parents leaving their kids as they have no money or food and no options. What is the solution? Sadly I dont see one......... we are now starting to see UK government owned banks taking huge loses because they bought into Greek debt. Its going to get worse before it gets better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted February 29, 2012 Author Share Posted February 29, 2012 I saw that too Andrew and whilst it is a sample, it really is not indicative of the current situation. Those rules have been scrapped for a while now and early retirement is a thing of the past. The way the media have portrayed the whole shambles has been disgraceful. From tieing it into the lack of taxes being paid (admittedly this is true at the highest level but the workers get taxed at source the same as the UK) to the "riots" they have tried to sensationalise every aspect without reporting the true nature of what's been happening. @LBM - The problem has been that past governments borrowed excessively with scant regard to how they would pay it back. There was also a culture of corruption that knew no bounds with "jobs for the boys" rife within the public sector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Ah ok. And I think you're right regarding Media coverage re; taxes etc. Horrible times ahead for the people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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