Hotels to house public sector workers

Seeking to tackle the chronic housing shortage faced by public sector workers in popular tourist destinations, the government is rolling out a plan to recruit hotels. 

The proposed bill by the Tourism Ministry would allow state agencies - including those overseeing education, health, the police, and fire services - to lease hotel staff rooms for their employees, aiming to secure vital public services during peak tourism seasons.

The housing crunch has long plagued regions such as the Cyclades islands, where summer rental prices soar beyond the reach of civil servants, forcing many to turn down posts.

Teachers, doctors, police officers and firefighters are among those disproportionately affected. "The phenomenon is becoming increasingly severe, making it impossible to adequately staff structures that provide public utility services to residents, which are...