Staff shortage at Rhodope e-EFKA Office raised in Greek Parliament
Members of Greece’s New Left party have brought the issue of staff shortages at the local e-EFKA office in Rodopi before the Greek parliament following an initiative led by Rhodope MP Özgür Ferhat.
In a parliamentary question submitted to the Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Security, lawmakers argued that insufficient staffing at the Rodopi e-EFKA Local Directorate is seriously disrupting citizens’ access to social security services.
Employees Reportedly Handling Multiple Departments
According to the parliamentary submission, complaints from local residents indicate that the number of employees currently serving at the institution falls far below operational needs.
The MPs stated that staff members are often forced to manage the workload of two or even three separate departments simultaneously, creating serious operational difficulties within the local office.
They warned that the shortage has resulted in significant delays in processing applications, particularly in matters related to insurance procedures and recognition of employment periods, with some citizens reportedly waiting months for results.
Pressure on Workers Affecting Service Quality
The lawmakers also stressed that excessive workloads are placing considerable pressure on employees, negatively impacting both service quality and workplace efficiency.
The statement further pointed out that some local e-EFKA branches in other regions — including Drama — reportedly have larger staffing levels, arguing that a more balanced personnel distribution across regional offices is needed.
MPs Demand Clarification From Ministry
In their parliamentary inquiry, the MPs requested detailed information from the Ministry regarding the current staffing structure and the number of active employees working at the Rodopi e-EFKA office.
They also asked whether the institution would be reinforced with additional personnel and whether future hiring would take place through the Greek civil service recruitment authority ASEP, either through written examinations or alternative hiring procedures.
Additional questions were raised about the possibility of support through DYPA employment programs or other temporary staffing models.
The lawmakers ultimately called on the government to provide a clear timetable for any planned staff reinforcements, stating that the primary objective is to reduce bureaucratic delays and improve service access for insured citizens in the region.
