POESE criticizes Greek government measures for hospitality sector

The Panhellenic Federation of Restaurants and Related Occupations (POESE) has criticized recent government measures announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair, claiming they fail to provide substantive support to the hospitality sector.

POESE stated that the government ignored specific industry requests, which included restoring a uniform 13% VAT for the sector (excluding alcohol), abolishing the special consumption tax on coffee, removing taxes on delivery and online orders, and eliminating increased social security contributions for work performed on holidays, Sundays, and nights.

Instead, the Federation argues that the Prime Minister's decision to increase the minimum wage while offering only a 0.5% reduction in employee social security contributions as compensation will increase labor costs and place further pressure on businesses already struggling with high operating costs and declining turnover.