Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-04-20 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Economic recovery could lead to rise in wages, SEV says [02] Niarchos Foundation donates 143 ambulances to the State --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Economic recovery could lead to rise in wages, SEV says One in 10 workers in Greece has part-time employment, while in the EU-28 the part-time employment rate is double (two in 10 workers), the Federation of Hellenic Enterprises (SEV) said in its weekly bulletin on the Greek economy. In both regions, part-timers work an average 20 hours per week, with the manufacturing sector showing relatively low part-time employment levels (equal to the EU-28 average), evidence that the use of machinery equipment with shifts in production process does not favour part-time employment. "In Greece of crisis and high unemployment, part-time is way-out for enterprises struggling to survive in a difficult economic environment of a dramatic decline in turnover," SEV said in the report, adding that job positions were safeguarded -although with reduced participation in production- which could be improved after the first signs of economic recovery. SEV said that a decline in minimum wages in 2012, coincided with a significant increase in part-time employment among small enterprises, leading to a reduction of average wages. When the economy begins recovering there could be an increase in the minimum wage and of average wages in relation in an improvement in productivity, the report said, adding that in any other case economic recovery could be undermined and should be avoided. [02] Niarchos Foundation donates 143 ambulances to the State The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) announced it is donating 143 modern ambulances to the National Emergency Center (EKAV) and undertaking their full maintenance for the next eight years, as part of its initiative against the economic crisis and aside for its regular community action. The new vehicles will modernize 22 percent of EKAV's total ambulance fleet of 650 vehicles, replacing older technology vehicles, SNF's Chief Operating Officer John Zervakis said at an event held on Thursday with EKAV and the Health ministry to present the donation. The grant, valued at 14 million euros, will also include the digital upgrade of EKAV's operations center. It entails the procurement of 65 conventional ambulances, 22 mobile medical units, 6 of which cover the needs of air ambulance services with specialized equipment for newborns, 26 4x4 ambulances and 30 low-volume vehicles. The SNF organized a tender process, in collaboration with EKAV, which determined the specifications for the vehicles that will meet the current needs of the fleet. A total of five companies participated in the process. The vehicles will be allocated to the regions of Attica, Central and Western Macedonia, Thessaly, Epirus, Central Greece, Ionian Islands, Western Greece, the Peloponnese, Northern and Southern Aegean and Crete.