Jobs scheme for older workers in Apokoronas at risk of ending

Summary

A state employment programme placing unemployed people aged 55 to 67 in municipal jobs is at risk of expiring without a renewal, leaving Apokoronas with gaps in daily services. The municipality has formally asked the Regional Union of Municipalities of Crete to escalate the issue to the relevant ministries and the Central Union of Greek Municipalities. For the workers involved — many of them close to retirement — continued employment is described as critical for their financial stability.

Jobs scheme for older workers faces expiry in Apokoronas

A state programme that places unemployed people aged 55 to 67 in temporary municipal jobs is nearing its end without a guaranteed extension, raising concerns about both service delivery in Apokoronas and the livelihoods of the workers it employs.

What the programme does

The scheme funds employment contracts for older jobseekers, placing them in municipal services where they carry out day-to-day tasks essential to the running of local administration. In Apokoronas, these workers cover roles that help offset a persistent staffing shortfall — a problem the municipality says is common to councils across Greece.

Who is affected

The people most directly at risk are the workers themselves, who are close to retirement age and rely on the programme as a bridge to their pension. For this group, losing the position would mean a loss of income at a stage of life when finding new employment is particularly difficult.

Residents of Apokoronas could also feel the impact if services become understaffed. The municipality has not specified which departments rely most on programme workers, but describes the potential gaps as significant.

What the municipality has done

The municipality submitted a formal request to the Regional Union of Municipalities of Crete, asking it to take the case to the Central Union of Greek Municipalities and to the ministries responsible for employment and local government. The submission included full documentation and individual applications from the affected workers, each outlining their specific duties and contribution to municipal operations.

The municipality is also calling on local government associations more broadly to advocate for the programme's continuation.

What comes next

The outcome depends on decisions at the national level. No deadline or ministerial response is mentioned in the available information. If no extension is granted, contracts would expire and the positions would end.

Note: This report is based on a press release issued by the Municipality of Apokoronas.

Official source

PRESS RELEASE – Intervention by the Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalampos Koukianakis, for the extension of the employment programme for persons aged 55–67

March 13, 2026, 2:57 PM

The Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalampos Koukianakis, intervenes on the need to extend the employment programme for unemployed persons aged 55–67, sending an official request to the Regional Union of Municipalities of Crete, asking for its institutional support so that the matter is forwarded immediately to the Central Union of Greek Municipalities and the competent Ministries.

The workers employed in the Municipality through this specific programme cover essential and everyday needs of the municipal services, contributing to their smooth operation and to better service for citizens. Their presence has proved particularly significant at a time when municipalities across the country are facing serious understaffing problems.

The possible expiry of contracts without provision for an extension creates the risk of significant operational gaps in the services of the Municipality of Apokoronas, directly affecting the daily lives of municipal residents and the effectiveness of the administration.

At the same time, this programme has a strong social footprint, as it concerns workers who are close to retirement age and for whom the continuation of employment is a critical factor of economic security and dignity.

The request sent by the Mayor of Apokoronas to the Regional Union of Municipalities of Crete includes full documentation, as well as the applications of the workers, which record in detail their duties and their contribution to the daily operation of the services.

The Mayor of Apokoronas calls on the collective bodies of Local Government to highlight the need for the continuation of a programme that substantially supports both the functioning of municipalities and social cohesion.

Support for employment and the smooth functioning of municipal services are basic prerequisites for a strong and effective Local Government.