ATHENS — Greek Labour and Social Affairs Minister Kostis Hatzidakis on Friday announced a new package of measures to support enterprises and workers and help them deal with problems due to the pandemic. Speaking in Parliament, Hatzidakis said the ministry was freezing all social insurance contributions for enterprises and the self-employed that were due on April 30 and refer to the period of the first lockdown until the end of the year. He also said that the ministry will soon table legislation in Parliament that increases the number of installments for the repayment of social insurance contributions from 24 to 48, with an interest rate of 2.5 pct, starting from January 1, 2022. This measure is taken to align with the finance ministry and create a comprehensive framework for the protection of workers and enterprises.

Hatzidakis said that a special platform will operate within the next few days, allowing employers to register their workforce and for workers to be able to have a rapid test for the coronavirus twice a month, with the cost covered exclusively by the state budget. The labour minister said that a modern, European legislation will be soon tabled in Parliament on vocational training and announced the hiring of 121 persons to increase the frequency of labour inspections.