The recession has in some cases accelerated
painful change that existed before the
pandemic, such as technological shifts in the
auto industry. Automakers Daimler and Renault,
airline Lufthansa, oil company Royal Dutch
Shell and travel concern TUI have announced
sweeping cost-cutting and job reductions.
Among the hardest hit are workers and small
business owners in the services industries,
many of whom are struggling for survival, and
independent contractors and temporary workers.
Greek actor and theater director Aris Laskos
hasn’t worked since early February. He received
a one-off support check for 800 euros ($940)
shortly after the country’s economy was placed
in lockdown in the spring.
Greece recently emerged from a crippling
financial crisis after spending most of the past
decade in recession. Unemployment numbers
are again rising fast, reaching 16.7% in the
second quarter, with the numbers expected to
worsen after government funding for furlough
schemes runs out.
“Probably 90% of employees in the arts sector are
unemployed,” said Laskos, who heads an actors’
guild representing more than 2,500 professionals.
Most members do not qualify for benefits due to
the freelance nature of acting work.
“The arts sector is was the first to be locked
down and is the last one still not opened yet,”
Laskos said. “We are struggling, trying to cope
with our lives. We have no insurance, and we
cannot enter the unemployment system...
Everything else is running: planes, ferries,
restaurants, but not us.”