Employment compensation

Qatar's ruler has introduced a law giving broad protection to tens of thousands of foreigners working as maids, cooks, cleaners and nannies, addressing some concerns long highlighted by human rights groups.

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.

New complaints of discrimination have hit the film awards season after Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman slammed the gender pay gap as "crazy" and said it was even worse in Hollywood than in other jobs.
 

The Federation of Greek Hospital Doctors' Unions (OENGE) has filed a legal notice to the Health Ministry over not being able to take the days off from work they are entitled to and the amount of overtime they are forced to put in.

In scathing remarks, the federation said doctors were denied leave on a variety of pretenses.

Roughly 37.667 salaried jobs were lost in the private sector in November 2016 according to the information system ERGANI, in what is considered the worst employment performance of the last five years, with more layoffs than hirings.

Bulgaria ranks last in terms of income not only among EU member-states but also in the region, showed a survey of the Confederation of Independent Syndicates in Bulgaria (KNSB).

The nominal amount of the average monthly wage in Bulgaria of EUR 420 is about 5.5 times lower than the average levels for the EU, where it is EUR 2,293.

The minimum monthly wage is set at BGN 460 in the draft budget of the government for 2017.

Pension installments will increase by 1%, while the retirement age, the length of service for workers in the mass third labour category and in the Security sector will increase by two months. The pension ceiling remains BGN 910.

The first meeting between the institutions and Greek Labour Minister George Katrougalos ended on Sunday, and despite its exploratory nature it became apparent that the two sides remain entrenched in their positions on the issues of mass layoffs and minimum wage.

Owners of a number of small businesses have been making bogus hirings and reporting new employees do not work or receive a salary, in order to receive a reduction in income tax and in their own social security contributions by paying insurance for the non-existent staff.

According to data released by the Greek Labour Ministry, 126,956 workers are paid a gross salary of 100 Euros per month!