Human Rights

Greek steel workers protest job cuts

Greek steel factory workers have gathered outside the country’s parliament to demand an end to lay-offs that they say has pushed them to near-poverty.

Protesters gathered in Synthagma Square in central Athens on Thursday and asked the government to re-hire sacked workers and stop pay-cuts.

A similar demonstration was held outside the National Archaeological Museum to protest plans to terminate a number of jobs.

The protests come as new official data shows that over 340-thousand Greeks lost their jobs last year because of harsh budget cuts.

Over one million people or 21 percent of the Greek work force was registered as unemployed in December. Those hardest hit by the recession were women and youth below 25 years of age.

Greece has been struggling with its poor economy since the country fell into recession in 2009.

Despite numerous austerity cuts implemented by the government and bailout funds provided by international lenders, which are aimed at stimulating growth, the economy has continued to contract and is not expected to show expansion until 2013.

Greeks have been turning up on the streets for anti-government demonstrations on numerous occasions since the austerity cuts were first implemented in early 2011.

Many of the rallies turned violent, leaving scores of the protesters injured.

Back to top button