ATHENS – Main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras on Thursday pointed out the need to support small- and medium-sized enterprises and employees during his visit to the island of Rhodes.

Walking around the medieval town of Rhodes, Tsipras met with shop owners whose shops remain closed as they await the start of the tourist season and had the opportunity to discuss the serious problems that they face, with most reporting that they have not worked since October 2019 as their obligations continue to mount.

Referring to the support measures, Tsipras said that the social insurance contributions of employees in SMEs should be fully subsidised, in addition to 40 percent their salaries, while adding that working capital should be offered to all businesses.

He also called on the government to take advantage of the institutional tool provided by development banks, using them to give small loans to SMEs.

Tsipras will later meet with the regional governor of Southern Aegean Giorgos Hatzimarkos and at noon he will meet with representatives of the productive classes of the islands to discuss the problems of each sector.

At 19:00 Tsipras will meet at the Town Hall of Rhodes with mayors of the Dodecanese islands and other local government representatives to discuss the problems on the islands.