Surplus of 3,500 employees in 4 ministries

The Troika has returned to its request for dismissal of civil servants because of the delays recorded in promoting the administrative reforms.

Based on the new organizational charts, 3,500 employees from four ministries are considered redundant. If one adds another 2,000 who have been suspended since last year and have not been absorbed into new positions, it is understood that the absorption becomes a difficult puzzle.

Yesterday's meeting of the Council for Administrative Reform was attended by the ministers of Finance Y. Stournaras, Labour Yannis Vroutsis, Development Kostis Hatzidakis, Justice Anthonis Roupakiotis, Administrative Reform Anthonis Manitakis, Interior Stylianidis and Macedonia-Thrace Theodoros Karaoglou.

The ministers decided on a considerable reduction of structures and services at four ministries: Labour, Justice, Rural Development and Macedonia-Thrace, in order for them to perform better at the lowest possible cost.

The Greek government asserts that these changes do not lead to redundancy as their design was such so as not to create a surplus of civil servants. Stournaras added that "right now we're not talking about layoffs."

But government officials say it is very difficult for redundant employees to be absorbed into other positions.