Greece announced temporary measures on Tuesday to support workers on the tourist island of Santorini, which has been experiencing earthquakes for the past week. The Aegean Sea off Santorini has seen thousands of earthquakes up to a magnitude of 5.3 since February 1, leading to a state of emergency declaration for at least a month.
Schools on Santorini and nearby islands have been closed, with rescue teams and the military deployed. Over 11,000 people, including many seasonal workers, have evacuated. The labor ministry of Greece is initiating actions to protect jobs and offer financial aid to workers and businesses on Santorini, a popular European summer destination heavily reliant on tourism.
As part of these measures, companies can suspend workers' contracts until March 3 without layoffs being permitted. Once the suspension ends, businesses must maintain the same number of jobs as before. Workers with suspended contracts are eligible for state compensation of up to 534 euros in cash for 30 days.
The union representing employees in the food and tourism sector (POEET) expressed worries on Monday about the lack of protection for workers. They highlighted the income loss and insurance absence for hundreds of affected employees.
Santorini, with a population of around 20,000 people, was shaped by a volcanic eruption in 1600 BC. It attracts over 3 million visitors annually, drawn to its iconic sunset views and picturesque streets. Seismologists emphasize the unusual seismic activity in the region, felt as far as Athens, as unprecedented in earthquake-prone Greece, potentially lasting for weeks. The earthquakes are unrelated to the volcano and likely stem from undersea fault lines, with the possibility of a more significant tremor not being ruled out.