Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-03-01
CONTENTS
[01] Bill to increase unemployment benefit
[01] Bill to increase unemployment benefit
A draft bill tabled in Parliament on Thursday by the employment
ministry stands to increase basic unemployment benefits to 50 pct of
the basic wage in 2007 and 55pct of the basic wage in 2008.
This means that the benefit will increase to 349.5 euros a month from
January 1, 2007, 367.38 euros from May 1, 2007 and to 404.11 euros on
January 1, 2008, not taking into account any possible increase in the
basic wage for 2008. The sums will also be increased by 10 pct for
every dependent member of the person drawing unemployment benefit.
The bill also creates a new fund within the Greek Manpower Employment
Organisation (OAED) called a "Special Social Solidarity Fund" that will
receive funds from the government budget, EU funds and social spending
funds - specifically by the redistribution of contributions already
levied for OAED to fund armed forces employee benefits.
The aim of the new fund is to provide financial support and social
protection for the long-term unemployed and those that are made
redundant by companies that are restructuring and are at a disadvantage
in the job market because they are close to the age of retirement.
Main opposition PASOK MP Maria Damanaki criticised the draft bill as a
"pre-election" ruse whose main aim was to hand out favours to
supporters of the ruling New Democracy party and not protect the
unemployed.
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