JOBS AND VACANCIES IN ATHENS

What vacancies are in demand in the country?

Skilled work

Specialists with higher education can try to find work in the following vacancies:

• pharmacist;
• doctor;
• nurse;
• technologist;
• agronomist;
• System Administrator;
• programmer;
• software developer, etc.

Qualifications and work experience here will be mandatory requirements for the candidate.

Unskilled work

In Greece, for many years, the most in demand are seasonal jobs related to the agricultural and tourism sectors:

• hotel manager;
• bartender, waiter;
• cook;
• guide, tour guide;
• harvester (tangerines, olives, etc.);
• driver;
• poultry farm worker;
• animator;
• cleaner, etc.

There will be the following mandatory requirements for the candidate: at least one year of work experience in the same position, the opportunity to obtain a work permit in the EU. As a rule, employers provide seasonal workers with housing, food and can pay for flights.

Available work in Greece

There is always work in Greece and you can get a job both legally and illegally. Moreover, there are quite a lot of illegal ones due to difficulties with official registration for immigrants. The government prefers to use local labor resources, without attracting foreigners, thus trying to combat unemployment. However, there are industries that are experiencing an acute shortage of personnel. These include the medical sector and construction.

Despite the global crisis, agriculture, construction and tourism continue to actively develop and require workers. Seasonal work is a popular way for Russians to earn money and live in a sunny, beautiful country. In other areas of activity, the situation is not very good, since the state is saving on wages by laying off employees. Therefore, if a foreigner wants to get an official job with a high salary level, it will be difficult without intermediaries. Specialized agencies will help you not only find a suitable vacancy, but also collect all the necessary documents.

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Employment mechanism

According to the legislation of the Schengen countries, citizens of third countries must obtain special permits - visas - in order to be able to enter this zone. There are several types of visas that suit different purposes of travel. Employment in Greece on a tourist visa is illegal. To have the right to work in a foreign country, you need to obtain the appropriate document.

Stages of official employment

The official structure in Greece involves the following steps:

• Search for a vacancy provided by a company registered in Greece or a legal employer.
• Signing an employment contract.
• Approval of a workplace for a foreigner (obtaining a work permit) at the Greek Employment Service.
• Applying for a long-term work visa at the Greek Consulate.
• Obtaining a residence permit with the right to work.

The first and main stage is to find a vacancy and an employer. Since officially employing a foreign citizen involves paperwork, rarely anyone is ready to get involved in this. Your best chance of signing a work contract is with a large international company or scientific institute that requires highly specialized specialists.

Farmers or hoteliers who are looking for seasonal workers will not do this because it is much easier and more profitable for them to hire someone already in the country.

After signing an employment contract, the employer is required to obtain government permission to hire a foreign citizen. Perhaps this step is the most difficult, since the employer will have to argue that he really needs this candidate. To do this, he will need to prove to the Greek Employment Service that none of the applicants from among the citizens of the country and the EU are suitable for this position.

Required documents

Once you have received the main documents from the employer - the contract and permission, you should collect the remaining papers to apply for a category D visa. The list includes:

• a foreign passport, the validity of which must exceed 3 months after the expiration of the issued visa;
• copies of all pages of a foreign passport (current and all previous ones) where there are any marks;
• copy of internal passport;
• 2 color photos;
• visa application completed according to the sample on a special form;
• a certificate of good conduct, certified by an apostille and translated into Greek;
• medical insurance;
• medical certificate stating that the applicant does not have infectious diseases.

Once you enter the country, you should receive:

• social Security number;
• taxpayer number.

Work permit

With the documents received and the application completed in Greek, you need to apply for a residence permit at the local municipal office or prefecture. This can be done in person or with the help of an authorized person, who is often a lawyer. Registration involves paying a fee, which is about 150 euros for a residence permit for up to one year. However, the cost may vary depending on the duration of the permit to remain legally in the country.

In Greece, you can only get the opportunity to work after obtaining a work permit. A residence permit is considered a full-fledged permit.

Higher paying jobs

The salary when applying for a job in Athens is the defining moment for those seeking where it is better to get a job. In this case, seasonal work will not be suitable, but then higher demands are placed on the candidate:

1. Knowledge of Greek and English.
2. A high degree of qualification, confirmed by diplomas, certificates, certificates of completion of certain courses.

First of all, specialists in the following areas are valued:

1. Programming and computer technologies.
2. Rare construction specialties, for example, such as technology for processing building materials, automatic machines.
3. High level doctors, scientists.

We recommend watching a video on how to find a job in Greece:

In Greece, you can get a job in a foreign company that conducts its business also on the territory of this country, since those, given the choice between a Russian and a Greek, prefer the former. First of all, because a Russian, as a foreigner, will work harder, better and more responsibly.

In order to get a job in the Republic of Greece, it is necessary to comply with visa formalities, without which it is impossible to carry out work in the country.

1. To work in the tourism sector, you must obtain a special visa that allows this type of work.
2. A short-term visa is issued for seasonal work.
3. To work permanently in Greece, you need to apply for a work visa and then a residence permit.

When applying for a job, knowledge of English is important, and even better, Greek. Then the chances of getting a place are much higher.

Salaries in Greece

The average salary in Greece in 2021 was €1,092.01 per month before taxes. At the same time, qualified specialists receive 1,370 euros, and workers without qualifications receive 786 euros.

In terms of net average wages with an indicator of 943 euros, Greece ranks 18th among 28 EU countries. The country's population is about 11.2 million people, while about 3.7 million are officially employed, and the number of unemployed exceeds 1 million. Every fifth Greek works part-time, and more than 30 thousand work only up to 4 hours a week or 16 hours a month . Accordingly, this greatly affects the average income level of Greek citizens in the country as a whole.

By profession

Employment in the agricultural sector

In Crete, grapes, olives and citrus fruits are grown in small quantities. This industry requires people to grow, collect and transport the already harvested crops. Therefore, most often strong and resilient young people are employed in this field, since the work involves physical labor.

The average salary in Greece for picking oranges and tangerines ranges from 300 to 600 euros per month. But it is worth remembering that this type of activity is exclusively seasonal. The season starts in October and ends in April. Often workers work 10 hours a day.

Olive picking work on the island of Crete

Employment in the agricultural industry involves working in fields and greenhouses. To harvest grapes you need to go to Crete in August. If a foreigner wants to go to the picking of oranges, tangerines, lemons, avocados or olives, then he should come in November - December.

Business in Greece

Greek legislation requires opening a business in various organizational and legal forms. A company can be registered in each of the available forms by both Greek citizens and foreign citizens. Moreover, businessmen who are representatives of other countries have the right to open a company in Greece that will provide various services on behalf of a company located in another country. A company registered in Greece will legally be classified as Greek, even if its founders are foreign entrepreneurs.

Stages of registering a business in Greece

1. Obtaining from the tax authorities a special form (Form A-7), indicating the absence of debt on tax obligations, which allows you to begin registering a new company. The procedure is free and done online.
2. Registration of a company with the Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The following conditions must be met:
   • a unique name for the company has been chosen;

   an account has been opened in a Greek bank into which the minimum amount of authorized capital is deposited;

3. constituent documents certified by a notary have been prepared;
4. a certified seal has been created (cost 40 euros);
5. registration of legal address;
6. information about the owners;
7. information about the direction of the company's activities.

The whole procedure takes up to 10 days, the cost is about 250 euros. In addition, the above documentation is sent to the local court, which issues a registration number, and to the national printing office for publication of the new company in the local newspaper.

8. Registration of employees in the personnel organization of employment in Greece. Done within a day online and free of charge.
9. Registration with an insurance institution for the self-employed. Done during the day, cost 111 euros.

Labor migration to Athens

The population of Athens in 2021 is about 665 thousand people . It is the largest city in Greece. Unlike many other European capitals, the ethnic composition of the local residents is quite homogeneous. However, in addition to Greek citizens, many Albanians, Bulgarians, Romanians, Armenians, Turks live here, and Russians and Ukrainians are common. In their free time, migrant workers can enjoy many attractions, visit theaters or taste Greek cuisine.

Unfortunately, the unstable economic situation makes it much more difficult to find a job in Greece. In the country as a whole, unemployment reaches 16% , and among young people it even exceeds 30%. In some regions, more than half of working-age young Greeks are not officially employed. In the capital, the situation on the labor market is also not the most rosy. Surveys of local residents indicate that unemployment is the number one problem in the state.

Low employment levels are forcing the government to take additional measures to protect the local workforce. Following the example of most European countries, official work in Athens for foreigners from third countries, including Russians and Ukrainians, becomes available only if there are no applicants for the vacancy among Greeks and residents of the European Union. Thus, finding a legal job in the capital of Greece with high wages is incredibly difficult.

Legal employment in Athens involves a preliminary search for a vacancy in a Greek company, concluding a contract, obtaining a work permit at the local Labor Department (handled by the employer) and opening a work visa. Many migrant workers from the CIS countries carry out professional activities in Greece illegally, for example, in the field of tourism and construction. It is strictly not recommended to do this. It's better to try to find a legitimate job in Athens and not worry about the consequences.

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Greece

pros

Permanent residence in Greece, without a doubt, has important advantages. In reality, there are not always enough of them.

• Climate features . More than 300 days a year are sunny. In addition, summer always brings joy with dry weather. Winters are often wet, but the weather conditions are comfortable. The favorable climate makes for a pleasant stay in Greece.
• Tourism . Even those who live in Greece permanently can visit the beaches and swim in the warm sea. Almost all cities can boast of a well-developed level of infrastructure.
• Affordable housing . Often apartments are offered at affordable prices. It is important to understand that the cost depends on the prestige of the area and the square meters of the apartment. If you plan to buy a home, you can choose an interesting option for yourself, taking into account your financial capabilities.
• Free higher education and various benefits for students . It is important to note that foreigners also have a good chance of receiving free higher education, which will be rated in most European countries. However, such lucrative offers are only available to those who perform well in the exams. The best students can undergo an internship abroad, and therefore prove themselves to a greater extent. The Greek authorities offer preferential conditions for traveling on public transport, visiting museums, and purchasing cinema tickets, so you can count on decent financial support.
• Inexpensive food . Cheap catering establishments are successfully operating in Greece, where you can eat and drink for a ridiculous amount. Moreover, Greek street food, which is cheap, turns out to be tasty and filling. If you wish, you can find a cozy cafe where all dishes and drinks from the menu are offered at an affordable price.
• Night life . Many Greeks try to fully enjoy the nightlife. Night clubs and bars are available for this. Such entertainment delights not only those who have lived here since their birth, but also those who have moved for permanent residence even from megacities of other countries.
• A residence permit opens up new prospects . For example, you can travel throughout Europe without any problems. In addition, the protection of the interests and rights of residence permit holders is guaranteed.
• Measured rhythm of life . The Greeks are distinguished by their leisurely and calm nature. You can forget about punctuality in Greece. At the same time, a calm pace of life contributes to a better perception of any events.

Minuses

• High unemployment rate . Currently, unemployment in Greece reaches 20-25 percent. If foreigners do not have a good knowledge of the Greek language, decent education and experience, employment turns out to be difficult. Many businesses were forced to stop completely. Companies in the small and large business segment are also actively closing. Recently, the Greeks have been living off tourism, which is the most important source of replenishment of the state budget.
• Strikes disrupt the work of many people . Rallies are held even on the central streets of cities, so it is not always possible to quickly and easily get to the desired destination. In addition, public transport drivers go on strike almost every month, resulting in problems with the use of transport services.
• Bureaucracy . Any documentary issues require a lot of time and effort to resolve.
• Crime . In recent years, Greece has become increasingly associated with crime. This is facilitated by the active influx of illegal migrants and refugees from disadvantaged countries in Asia and Africa.