Layoff

The Turkish government is planning to ban layoffs for three months in a bid to protect those lacking job security and to ease damages to the economy due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a draft legislation.

This is the first of two stories on how the coronavirus crisis is affecting Poland's economy. See also: Live: Coronavirus Updates

As thousands like Stefaniak reel from the sudden loss of income, critics say the government needs to do more to help workers hit by a slump in economic activity caused by social-distancing policies imposed to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Labour inspectorates say they do not have the resources to look into a spike in reported abuses.

Early indications in some countries point to layoffs in the thousands. Public sector workers, for now, appear safe, but not necessarily their wages.

The government on Wednesday announced a 3.8-billion-euro package of measures to soften the blow to the economy from the coronavirus epidemic. The package aims to support workers, the self-employed and enterprises, as the first mass layoffs have already been recorded and the risk of a painful recession is looming large.

While talks between the management and the unionists at OTE are resuming on Thursday, aiming at the signing of a new collective labor contract, it appears the Deutsche Telekom-owned group is entering a fresh period of shrinking both its staff and its operation costs.

Greece's high structural unemployment, the huge degree to which employment depends on tourism, and entrapment in seasonal jobs in economic activities of low specialization ensure that the economy remains vulnerable and lead to high numbers of layoffs at the end of every tourism season.

The rapid plan by the state asset utilization hyperfund (HCAP) to make Hellenic Post (ELTA) sustainable provides for cost reductions and an increase in revenues, including the layoff of up to 10 percent of its workers before the end of this year.

Voluntary layoffs are reportedly expected next year with most credit institutions effecting a reduction in their employee numbers. The first large voluntary exit program, according to Kathimerini, is expected to be implemented by Bank of Cyprus, although guidelines and provisions for the layoffs have not been finalized yet.

Employees at press distribution companies will hold a 24-hour strike on Friday protesting layoffs in the sector.

Workers have planned a rally outside the Labor Ministry in Athens on Thursday at 6.30 p.m.

More than two thirds (68 percent) of corporations in Greece reduced their salary costs from 2010 to 2013, a survey conducted for the Bank of Greece has shown.