New Reforms on Liberalization of Closed Professions

According to OECD data, new reforms liberalizing regulated (or so-called closed-shop) professions will be applied this summer until the beginning of 2015. The agreement with the country’s creditors will abolish regulations and restrictions for professions established by law, reportsThe Capital, a Greek site for business and financial market news. Some categories of those closed professions are lawyers, engineers, notaries, architects, health professionals, hairdressers, geotechnicians etc. The liberal professions are subject to pervasive public regulation that covers many aspects of professional activities, among which are the exclusive exercise of certain functions, entry requirements and access mechanisms, minimum price determination, reforms at licensing procedures etc. In the legal profession, for example, the minimum wage of employed lawyers needs to be clarified with the Lawyers Code and in case of voluntary termination of service no retirement compensation will be given. Reforms will also be applied to the profession of engineers (including architects and surveyors).  According to the Hellenic Competition Commission, a new legislation has to be adopted for the amendment of unjustified or disproportionate requirements that restrict some activities in certain professions. The adoption of the new legislation and amendments will be completed between June until November 2014.

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