Hundreds of Greek chefs are seeking employment abroad, citing low wages, excessive working hours and violations of labor agreements, as Greece’s tourism and hospitality industry faces more than 83,000 unfilled positions despite record tourist arrivals and revenues.
According to the Panhellenic Federation of Food and Tourism Workers (POEET), approximately 500 cooks have left Heraklion, Crete, for jobs in the Seychelles, Monaco, Switzerland and Spain. Greek chefs have also received numerous employment offers from Istanbul this year.
Union representatives attribute the departures primarily to better pay and working conditions overseas, alongside widespread complaints of unpaid overtime, excessive shifts and inadequate e nforcement of labor regulations in Greece.
Long Hours and Unpaid Overtime
At a press conference Wednesday, POEET representatives reported labor violations in Crete, Rhodes, Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Kos and Athens.
The federation alleged that some employers manipulate the digital work-card system by retaining employees’ cards in accounting offices and recording fewer hours than those actually worked.
As a result, employees officially registered for five eight-hour shifts may work seven days a week without receiving overtime compensation.
Union officials also accused some businesses of using alternative business classifications to avoid applying sector-wide collective bargaining agreements.
Labor inspections remain insufficient, according to POEET. In the regional units of Heraklion and Lasithi, only five or six labor inspectors are available to oversee businesses across both areas.
The federation also reported cases of employers demanding the return of holiday bonuses and overtime payments, as well as alleged pressure on pregnant employees and working mothers to resign.
More Than 83,000 Vacancies
Greece’s hospitality and food-service industry employs approximately 540,000 people, including more than 400,000 in food services and about 140,000 in hotels.
Despite strong tourism demand, the sector has more than 83,000 vacancies, including 53,000 in hotels and 30,000 in restaurants and other food-service businesses.
POEET representatives said the shortage reflects the departure of experienced workers who are unwilling to return to seasonal positions under existing employment conditions.
The federation also raised concerns about the treatment of foreign workers recruited to fill staffing gaps.
In Rhodes, approximately 9,000 recruited workers, many from the Philippines, are employed in the tourism industry.
According to union complaints, some work 12-hour shifts seven days a week for monthly wages of €700 to €800. Others reportedly pay recruitment intermediaries 10% of their salaries to cover travel and placement expenses, which can reach €5,000.
POEET is also seeking changes to unemployment benefits for seasonal tourism workers.
The federation argues that the current three-month benefit period is insufficient for employees whose tourism season typically lasts six to seven months.
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