Greece appoints 600 new firefighters, sparking debate over seasonal staff exclusion

The Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection published a tender for 600 new General Duty Firefighters on term and announced their distribution across the country, from 8 positions in Attica to 92 in the South Aegean and 55 in Crete. The recruitment aims to strengthen the fire service in response to rising climate‑related risks.

The move has been criticised by the Seasonal Firefighters Association of Kefalonia and Ithaca. The association notes that the tender’s 30‑year age limit and other criteria exclude the majority of the roughly 2,500 seasonal firefighters, leaving only about 500 eligible nationwide and just three on those islands. It calls the policy "an injustice that devalues the experience and service of seasonal firefighters" and urges the government to "establish a fair process that recognises their long‑term contribution".