- Title: GREECE: Shopowners stay closed to protest government's economic reforms
- Date: 22nd October 2008
- Summary: BUSINESSMEN AND SELF EMPLOYED GATHERED FOR RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) DIMITRIS ASIMAKOPOULOS, PRESIDENT OF THE GREEK CONFEDERATION OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, SAYING: "From the beginning of the year, even before this global economic crisis began, national statistics showed there was a drop in revenues, and (now with the crisis) we expect things will get much worse from here
- Embargoed: 6th November 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Economic News
- Reuters ID: LVA1GR9WEOC6PSD5OVGXYOQ9PLQY
- Story Text: Small shopowners across Greece closed on Wednesday (October 22) as part of a protest at the government's new tax measures and pension reforms they say will hurt small businessmen, especially at a time of global economic crisis.
The lights were off and the shutters were down at small shops across the capital and other major cities in the country in defiance of the government's economic reforms.
One shopper expressed his support for the shutdown.
"It is the right of people to protest for their rights. If they are right or wrong society and conditions will decide, but especially concerning the pension issue, it is true that people have had enough,"
said Dmitris Chronis.
Greece unveiled new taxes as part of a package to boost budget revenues and help Athens meet its 1.6 percent public deficit target this year despite flagging revenues.
The measures include a new 10 percent tax on self-employed people earning less than 10,500 euros a year and previously exempt from tax, starting this year.
It also includes incentives for the payment of outstanding taxes until the end of 2008, as the government tries to crack down on tax evasion.
But business people said the tax measures will hurt small businesses already struggling to make a profit in competition with larger companies, and at a time of economic insecurity from the global credit crunch.
They are also opposed to the government's plan to merge their pensions with other systems in order to revamp the social security system, concerned it will lower their benefits.
"From the beginning of the year, even before this global economic crisis began, national statistics showed there was a drop in revenues, and we expect (now with the crisis) things will get much worse from here on in," said Dimitris Asimakopoulos, President of the Greek Confederation of Commerce and Industry at a protest rally on Wednesday.
The rally was also supported by plumbers, electricians, mechanics, and other self-employed businesses.
The action came a day after a general strike in Greece in protest at the government's economic reforms that has angered unions who say will make life harder for workers.
The government won plaudits from Brussels for slashing its budget deficit to 2.8 percent of gross domestic product last year -- ending three years on the European Union's blacklist. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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