Labour Ministry

A Greek pensioners' body has accused the leadership of the Labour Ministry, the Single Social Security Entity (EFKA) and the auxilliary pensions fund of delaying on purpose the issuing of new pensions to secure the record surplus the government is presenting to its creditors.

The reshuffle proposed by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on Tuesday is the first since the election of his government last year, and will see two small ethnic Albanian parties join the ruling coalition, boosting its support in the assembly.

The Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, which controls two MPs in parliament, will get one ministerial post and one deputy minister.

BELGRADE - Serbia will get 2.7 mln euros in grants from Norway for various projects, including 1.68 mln set aside to assist the Serbian Interior Ministry in alignment in the fight against cyber crime and illegal drug trade, Serbian European Integration Minister Jadranka Joksimovic said on Wednesday.

The president of Serbia's Army Union, Novica Antic, has voiced doubts about the expertise and good intentions of new Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin.

Vulin heads a junior party in the ruling coalition, the Movement of Socialists, and was Serbia's former Labour Minister.

Facing a serious problem with a shortage of workers ahead of the summer season, Bulgaria's booming tourist industry is seeking to employ foreign workers to meet the growing demand.

Numerous municipalities and prefectures in Greece have been exploiting EC employment funding programs to hire thousands of people in local and regional government, according to a report by Protothema.gr.

Greek police are on alert after discovering a backpack with residue of an explosive device hanging from the main entry door of the building where the Labour Ministry is located on Stadiou avenue, in Athens, Monday morning.

Omonia square in downtown Athens has been shut down due to protests against the government’s plans concerning labour reforms, after the Union of Greek Civil Servants (ADEDY) have called a 24-hour strike. The Greek Communist Party’s (KKE) union branch of PAME have gathered at Omonia, while the demonstration of ADEDY members started at 11am.

The scheduled protest of pensioners in front of the Ministry of Labour is underway, with thousands of elderly citizens voicing their anger against the law that slashed their supplementary pensions, which took effect on November 1.

Thousands of middle and lower income Greek families have been hit the hardest in the country since the economic crisis has struck. A series of images showing hundreds of Greek families queuing outside a football stadium in the city of Patra, in the Peloponnese, to receive free food handouts is testament to this harsh reality.