“The deregulation of labor relations during the crisis years could not last indefinitely,” said SEV President Spyros Theodoropoulos at the conference“ Leadershipand Labor: Investing in Human Capital,” emphasizing the need to restore a more structured labor environment and strengthen collective bargaining agreements.
Mr. Theodoropoulos noted that employer organizations participated in a joint discussion on the revival of collective and sectoral agreements, pointing out that“low-wage workers have received raises in recent years, but the starting point was particularly low.” As he noted, “corporate profitability now allows for a transition to a more organized labor framework.”
He argued that the Greek economy has grown without a corresponding increase in productivity, noting that “the country must draw new labor from women who remain outside the labor market, immigrants, and Greeks living abroad.”
The President of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) emphasized that collective bargaining agreements are gradually creating a different work culture, while pointing out that convergence with Europe“cannot be achieved at the expense of workers but through investment and increased productivity.”
Referring to artificial intelligence, he expressed optimism about its impact on the labor market, noting that he does not foresee “armies of unemployed” due to AI, but rather new jobs and new needs that will arise.“We must neither demonize nor glorify AI,” he said. When asked about the culture of dialogue surrounding labor issues, he argued that Greek society is ahead of the political system.