G. Chatzitheodosiou: There are pluses but also several except for the measures that were announced

The government’s measures are support for businesses and professionals, “but they are not enough for the business to overcome the reef in front of it”. This was stated today by the president of the Central Union of Chambers of Greece and the Athens Chamber of Commerce, Giannis Chatzitheodosiou, emphasizing that “January is not only a difficult month for business. It has been a long time that has brought us far back.”

He added that the position of the chamber community is that “for example there could be an exemption or a significant rent subsidy for the catering industry, as this is a very significant cost. measures that would strengthen companies in the battle for survival that they are giving all this time “.

In more detail, Mr. Hatzitheodosiou stated the following:

Government announcements fall into two categories. One is related to the pursuit of economic policy and the other to measures to support businesses in the face of the effects of the pandemic.

Of course, the Prime Minister’s commitment for a significant – as he characterized it – increase of the minimum wage from May 1 stands out from the first category. It is a firm position of the chamber community that any intervention aimed at boosting household income is in a positive direction, as we believe that a part of it will be marketed through consumption. Of course, to be more specific and see if this increase in the minimum will not put the business in a more difficult position, we will have to see the reduction of non-wage costs as well as the abolition of the memorandum laws that threaten the viability of companies .

Regarding the measures announced to support businesses affected by the pandemic containment restrictions, I have to say that we expected something better.

We are about to close two years from the moment the coronavirus changed our lives. And we do not know exactly when we will get rid of this nightmare. The country’s businesses – mainly small and medium-sized ones – have been severely affected, while important sectors of our economy are one step away from disaster. So January is not just a difficult month for business. It has been a long time before that brought us far back. KEEE’s position is that these measures do provide support to companies and professionals, but it is not enough for the business to overcome the reef in front of it. For example, there could be an exemption or a significant rent subsidy for the catering industry, as this is a very significant cost. Ή the conversion of repayable advances into non-repayable ones and a host of other measures that would strengthen businesses in the battle for survival they have been waging all this time.

Let us not forget that they also have to deal with the wave of price increases, which will bother us for several months, maybe for the whole of 2022. The Prime Minister rejected the proposal to reduce VAT on a series of products, necessary for the housewife’s basket. I believe that the government should reconsider the issue of energy costs, subsidizing by 75% the rate of increase, because with what is in force today, companies will not be able to repay their already “loaded” obligations. And of course to proceed with the implementation of our proposal to increase the installments from 72 to 120 for the affected companies. Because as long as it is in operation, they will be able to increase state revenues. But if they are forced to close, then those few that they would give each month are lost.

It is in the interest of all of us, the government, society, the economy, to keep as many businesses as possible open. Something that with today’s data seems difficult.

Source: AMPE