The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Ms. Niki Kerameos “made footwork” in… “SELPE Mornings”

The working lunch of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Retail Sales Association (SELPE) was successfully completed with the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Ms. Niki Kerameos. The meeting took place in an exceptional climate of cooperation and focused on issues relating to the new labour challenges in the retail sector. During the discussion, the members of the SLEP who participated in the working lunch, presented their concerns and suggestions regarding changes in the working framework, including issues such as the implementation of the Digital Work Card, the simplification of procedures on the “Works” platform and dominant insurance and tax issues that concern the representatives of the industry. Particular emphasis was placed on the need to adapt requirements to modern market data, with a view to balancing business and employees. Mrs Kerameos recorded the issues raised and pledged to examine the proposals of the SELPE, with a view to finding solutions that would enhance the development of the industry and the proper functioning of the market. “Our main concern in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is the continuous improvement of industrial relations. The main prerequisite for achieving this is the ongoing and open dialogue between the State and all employees and businesses. The working meeting with the Board of Directors of SELPE, in which I was happy to participate, moves in this direction. Our aim is to listen to all the views and proposals that both workers and businesses have to put forward in order to strengthen the institutional framework for the benefit of all. I would like to thank the members of the Association very much for this constructive meeting and to assure that the dialogue will continue with all parties, on every issue relating to industrial relations,” the Minister said. “Minister Niki Kerameos has done us the honor of inaugurating the “Morning of the SELPE”. On our first breakfast, we had a difficult equation on the table: How can the State and retail companies improve the purchasing power of the average worker without overburdening companies with costs that will hinder their economic viability and at the same time without slowing down the fiscal performance of our country. In this debate, we raised concerns and proposals on topical and crucial issues. Mrs Kerameos showed the willingness to listen to the problems of the industry and through a constructive dialogue gave us accurate answers and a clear plan of action. In this ecosystem where we co-exist workers, state and businesses, we need to find proper balances so that they can take all the places worth their worth and on this basis we will work as a SELPE,” said the president of SELPE, Mr. Constantinos Gerardos. This meeting opened a series of planned meetings of the SELPE with institutional bodies, under the title “SELPE Mornings”, which aim to form an open channel of communication with the state and promote dialogue to form a modern and competitive environment for the Greek retail trade.