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Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-12-28
CONTENTS
[01] Gov't spokesman: Elections after March
[02] Employment in manufacturing sector down in Q3
[01] Gov't spokesman: Elections after March
AMNA / The Minister of State and government spokesman on Wednesday
predicted that elections will come after March 2012, when negotiations
for the PSI and a new bailout loan package for Greece have concluded.
Speaking to an Athens-based television station, spokesman Pantelis
Kapsis said the election date is not exactly fixed, "but it is apparent
that these negotiations will definitely continue until March ... After
late March we'll be in an election period. Up until then, I just don't
know." www.amna.gr
Moreover, Kapsis, a well-known newspaper managing editor before
he was appointed to the ministerial post, acknowledged that there
is friction between the three parties backing the current Papademos
interim government. He added, nevertheless, that the current political
"experiment" in Greece has not been conducted before in the country,
"therefore, it stands to reason that there will be friction. I believe
we will overcome it, because we must overcome it."
Asked about the prospect of new austerity measures, Kapsis said
such a development would arise only "because we have not done our job
properly. It is significant to understand this ... at this moment there
no such issue. I am not saying that it will not arise -- I cannot know
this -- but at this moment, it (prospect of new austerity measures)
does not exist." amna
[02] Employment in manufacturing sector down in Q3
AMNA / Employment in the manufacturing sector is suffering more than
any other sector of the economy because of the crisis, an analysis of
official figures showed on Tuesday.
The sector recorded a 15.6-pct job loss rate in the third quarter
of the year, compared with the same period in 2010, significantly
surpassing the rate of the primary sector (-8.6 pct). The manufacturing
industry has suffered a 22.8 pct decline in job positions in the period
2008-2011. Employment in the sector shrank from 542,000 in 2008 to
419,000, for a job loss of 123,600. www.amna.gra
The non-ferrous mining sector recorded a 7.4 pct decline in job
positions, the food industry a 6.4 pct decline, the textiles industry
a 33.3 pct plunge, the footwear and leather sector a 46.8 pct drop, the
printing industry a 21 pct decline, the clothing industry a 9.1 pct fall,
the machinery sector an 8.4 pct drop, the furniture industry a 12.8 pct
decline, the plastics industry a 15.4 pct fall and the pharmaceuticals
industry a 16.6 pct decline.amna
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