Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship

The government wishes to maintain the new reality of working from home, but to also ensure the protection of in-house staff in the economically vital production sector from the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis today told representatives of management and labour in a teleconference.

Just 7 percent of enterprises, mainly small and medium-sized ones, saw their turnover go up in this year's winter sales, which formally ended last Saturday. Nevertheless, most of them are still providing special offers in a bid to get rid of their winter merchandize.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his government's first priority is to "end the unacceptable tax siege" of taxpayers and businesses.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined the government's determination to lower the tax burden in Greece, telling a conference on the "The Future of Retail" organized by the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) that his first priority will be to "end the unacceptable tax siege" on individuals and business especially.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sought the establishment of a new social contract between entrepreneurs, labour, and the state at a meeting today with Greece's largest business and labour organisations.

Retailers' performance during the summer sales, which began on July 8 and end today, depends on several factors.

The Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) has asked Finance Minister Christos Staikouras for a portion of the income of self-employed professionals to be tax free, as is the case for salaried employees and pensioners.

Labor Minister Yiannis Vroutsis promised on Thursday that enterprises' non-salary costs in the form of social security contributions for employees will drop by five percentage points in the next four years.

Tradesmen appear disappointed with last Sunday's turnover, on the first Sunday of the summer sales.

A sample survey by the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) found that 56 percent of entrepreneurs are not happy with last Sunday's shopping, while only 19 percent expressed satisfaction.

Retail commerce in Greece has been suffering a decline this year, according to official statistics and market experts, largely due to overtaxation, shrinking disposable incomes and political uncertainty.