ATHENS – It's a long-standing complaint for the long-suffering in Greece: public sector workers who won't answer phones, but the new head of the Social Security system EFKA told those in his department they better do it.

Director Panagiotis Doufexis issued the order after widespread media reports cited complaints by citizens their calls weren't being answered or the lines were permanently busy, suggesting they were off the hook so workers wouldn't have to work.

Emails weren't being answered either with more public employees back at their desks with the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic after many had been working – or not – remotely for months.

“Pick up the phones, we're returning to normalcy,” he said, according to the business newspaper Naftemporiki, although some critics would contend that means more of the same with Greece's sluggish bureaucracy.

The ministry also is going to unveil a five-digit phone platform to ensure that phones are answered, the report said, although there was no indication they would be or the lines would stay “busy,” not picked up.