The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Dimitris Koutsoumbas, delivered a scathing critique of the government during a parliamentary debate on the Ministry of Labour’s bill concerning the “Incorporation of the Community Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages in the EU and Adjustment of Salaries of Public Employees.”

Koutsoumbas accused the New Democracy (ND) government of undermining labour rights and prioritising corporate profits. “You have turned the minimum wage from a safety net for the lowest-paid workers into a magnet pulling all wages downwards—serving as a safety net only for the profits of large business groups,” he said.

“A wage-cutting mechanism”

Koutsoumbas argued that the bill introduces a new wage determination system that strengthens what he described as a “permanent wage-cutting mechanism.” He criticised the use of an algorithm to calculate the minimum wage from 2028, which he said disregards workers’ needs while prioritising business profitability.

“The government claims that this new system is positive for workers because it introduces an ‘objective’ method of calculation and prevents wage reductions. But in reality, it entrenches a system that operates as a wage-cutter,” he said.

Koutsoumbas accused the government of burying workers’ rights to negotiate through collective bargaining. He likened the new system to the Vroutsis-Achtsioglou law, which he argued had already limited workers’ ability to influence wages through collective power.

“Starvation wages justified by an algorithm”

He also warned that governments would hide behind the algorithm to justify inadequate wages. “Every government will respond to the fair demands of workers by saying, ‘We’re not to blame; the algorithm is. It determined starvation wages.’”

Koutsoumbas further criticised the government’s claim that wage increases would return average salaries to 2011 levels by 2027. “Sixteen years later, in conditions where prices are incomparable to then, the government is offering development only for a minority, while the majority continues to suffer,” he said.

Risks to additional wages

He expressed concern about provisions in the bill allowing the government to reduce the minimum wage through ministerial decisions during economic crises. He also pointed out that the equalisation of minimum wages in the public and private sectors does not address the issue of reinstating the 13th and 14th salaries for civil servants. “Does this mean that at some point you plan to abolish these additional salaries in the private sector as well?” he asked.

International examples

Koutsoumbas criticised the government’s reliance on EU models for wage calculation, arguing that in countries like France, such systems have failed to deliver significant wage increases. Instead, he said, they have led to a rise in the number of employees earning only the minimum wage.

He also questioned the government’s long-term approach, referencing its proposed “action plan” with a 2030 horizon. “This signals to large employers that they should never sign sectoral agreements,” he said.

Alternative proposals

Koutsoumbas highlighted the KKE’s alternative bill, which calls for the reinstatement of Collective Labour Agreements. He urged the government to withdraw its proposal and bring the KKE’s bill to a vote. Addressing opposition parties, particularly those from the social democratic spectrum, he asked whether they would support his party’s proposal.

He concluded by asserting that meaningful improvements for workers would require curbing the power of big capital. “For workers to gain the slightest bit, big capital must lose. Hope lies in the struggles of workers across sectors to sign Collective Labour Agreements,” Koutsoumbas said.

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