Tourism Minister, Giorgos Lillikas said on Monday that the hoteliers’ Association PASYXE must avoid any further disturbance of the labour relations and respect what is already agreed, commenting on the Association’s announcement that PASYXE does not intend to submit 25% of the unemployment benefit to its employees.

Within the framework of the conference with regard to the enforcement of the Strategic Plan for Tourism and the role of the Public Sector, Mr. Lillikas has expressed his wish that both sides will respect the agreement, since “the hotel sector is much troubled by the instability in the labour relations”.

Misinterpretation – new crisis

On a letter sent to the Labour and Social Securities Minister, Makis Keravnos last week, PASYXE had requested the regulation of the submission of the 25% benefit to the employees who will be suspended after October 31, 2003.

PASYXE invoked the agreement for the renewal of the union contract, supporting that hoteliers are not entitled to pay this benefit.

On the other hand, hotel employees’ trade unions SEK and PEO have warned that “any one-sided decision that might leave the hotel employees exposed will not be tolerated”. The trade unions insist that this is all about a misinterpretation of the agreement, since it had agreed for the non-payment of the 25% provided that the employees’ rights were fully secured by another accepted regulation.

The issue would have been discussed on a scheduled meeting of the social partners, but was suspended due to an impediment on behalf of PASYXE.

It is noted that the union contract of the hotel employees will expire in March.