News / EU

Greek health workers protest against new legislation

Wednesday, 11 October 2017 7:06 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 11 October 2017 7:09 PM ]

Employees of public hospitals march behind an effigy depicting Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during a demonstration by health workers in central Athens against cuts in the public health sector, October 11. 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Public health workers have taken to the streets of Athens to protest against legislation that would introduce new civil service evaluation procedures.

The protesters rallied at various government buildings in Athens, including the Greek Ministry of Health, on Wednesday.

Tensions reportedly erupted between demonstrators and police outside the parliament.

The demonstrators also burned nurses’ robes in protest against the new scheme, which they say would negatively impact their salaries.

A demonstrator said Greece's ruling left-wing Syriza Party "is the best and most loyal government that follows to the letter whatever the creditors indicate."

"[Syriza] fully implements that policy, they have agreed to everything and they have mutated to a party worse than the right party," he added.

Greece was hit by an economic crisis seven years ago, when it was first forced to seek external financial aid. It has since seen its national output shrink by a quarter.

Greece has received about 260 billion euros in bailout aid since 2010 in exchange for reforms and deep spending cuts.

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