Thousands denied early retirement due to list change - The Best from Greece

Almost 200,000 people who were liable for early retirement because their professions had been included on the official list of those considered “hazardous and unhealthy” have now lost that right.

The Labor Ministry published on Thursday a revised list of the professions still deemed to be “hazardous and unhealthy”. It now applies to some 365,000 people rather than 531,000.

Among the professions that have been removed from the list are hairdressers, hotel chambermaids, patissiers and waiters who work until 10 p.m.

However, some professions will be added to the list. These include hospital staff, farmhands that work in greenhouses or use pesticides and TV cameramen who work with portable cameras.

The list only affects retirement criteria. Anything relating to supplementary pay and working conditions are set by the collective labor contracts for each sector.