Greek Workers Protest Shady Bank Privatization
Union leaders called today to a 24-hour strike to protest the privatization of Agricultural Bank of Greece (ATE) for just $ 95 million euros ($ 114 million USD).
“As Greek citizens we believe this is a great scandal. They want to sell a public bank that is in perfect condition to the private sector”, said labor unionist Kostas Amoutzias.
Employees are concerned about the future of their jobs and their social rights, Amoutzias said while criticizing the lack of transparency in the operation.
Amoutzias expressed disbelief in the promise that the positions and the same wages are guaranteed .
The Agricultural Bank of Greece includes about 3,000 employees on its payroll, and their privatization is part of the tax cuts imposed to Athens by the European Commission (EC), the European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
A Piraeus Bank statement released to the press confirmed the acquisition of “healthy part” of the ATE, which will continue working under the Agricultural Bank brand.
Dominican Poverty at 39 Percent in 2011
Poverty in the Dominican Republic dropped from 49 percent in 2004 to 39 percent in 2011, according to a new measurement system presented here today. This is due to a stricter methodology for assessing the phenomenon and will allow for additional references in order to design public policies, said Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Temistocles Montas.
Nevertheless, various media pointed out that poverty registered in 2011 under the previous system was 34 percent.
The World Bank and the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC) attended the presentation of the initiative, along with the aforementioned Ministry.
China to Shut Hundreds of Mines Over Safety Concerns
The government said Tuesday it will close hundreds of small mines over the rest of the year in order to improve the industry’s safety.
“We should use the opportunity afforded by excess coal supplies to intensify our crackdown on small coal mines and eliminate outdated mines,” said Yang Dongliang, head of the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS).
Chinese demand for coal, which fuels three-quarters of the nation’s power plants, has slowed with the cooling of the economy.
At least 625 small coal pits will be sealed off, Yang said during a national work safety video conference.
He specified Hunan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces as places where many small mines will be closed, asking local authorities to prioritize their closure.
He called for efforts to actively promote the merging and integration of coal producers to improve efficiency.
Scientific management should be implemented in coal-producing enterprises and production structures should be be improved, he added.
Via PL