Greece’s Tourism Sector Faces Summer Labor Shortage as Vacancies Hit 100,000

Greece’s tourism and hospitality manufacture is heading into the summertime play with a terrible labour shortage, arsenic tens of thousands of jobs stay unfilled aft a hard Easter vacation exposed staffing gaps crossed the sector.

Mr. George Chotzoglou, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Tourism and Food Service Employees, said vacancies person stabilized astatine astir 80,000 nationwide and could ascent to 100,000 if existent trends continue. He warned that the state risks mounting caller operational lows this summertime arsenic hotels, restaurants and resorts conflict to find workers.

The shortage was laid bare during the Easter question rush, 1 of the busiest successful caller years, erstwhile understaffed businesses were stretched to the limit. Industry officials accidental the occupation has been gathering for years, driven successful portion by labour rules introduced during the austerity play that bounds wintertime unemployment enactment for seasonal workers to 3 months.

That, national leaders say, has pushed experienced unit retired of the industry. They estimation seasonal rehirings person fallen by 25%, portion much than 40,000 skilled Greek hospitality workers person near for jobs successful Spain, Italy and Croatia since the pandemic.

The unit is particularly acute successful large destinations including Attica, Crete, Rhodes and Mykonos, wherever edifice and edifice operators are struggling to support work standards up of the highest question season.

Government efforts to bring successful overseas workers person truthful acold fallen short. Authorities had expected arsenic galore arsenic 50,000 workers from abroad, chiefly from Asia, but Mr. Chotzoglou said less than 10,000 person arrived. Union concerns stay implicit pay, lodging and moving conditions for those who bash come.

The mounting shortage present threatens 1 of Greece’s astir important economical sectors conscionable arsenic the summertime play begins.

While authorities projected the accomplishment of up to 50,000 overseas workers, chiefly from Asia, Mr. Chotzoglou noted that less than 10,000 person materialized, raising important national concerns regarding their undocumented moving conditions, housing, and wage standards.

By Eirini Mili