04-08-16 Nikos Filis defends measures to protect tutoring school teachers’ labour rights

The parliamentary committee on education made certain amendments to a bill regulating Greek language teaching, private schools, and private tutoring and language schools.

Regarding the ubiquitous tutoring schools to which nearly all Greek families resort for university entrance exams preparation, Filis described the conditions for the 50,000, mainly young,  educators as something of a modern day teaching sweat shop.

Filis said these teachers are working under conditions of black labour [illegal, undeclared and uninsured employment]

 “This is an important issue because it involves young employees. When we say we want to create a framework of labour rights for young people so as to stem the brain drain, this is at the heart of such legislative measures. These are not fearsome measures, they are self-evident,” Filis said.

“Someone who works 21 hours a week should have at least basic Social Insurance Foundation (IKA) coverage. It is simple. If someone is working, that labour must be declared so as to be taxed, on the one hand, and so as to avert tax evasion and insurance contributions evasion by small and medium size businesses, and large businesses as well,” Filis said.

The educational affair committee approved the bill by majority, and recommended that it be passed by a plenary session of parliament.