The regulation for the extension of the insurance capacity for one year without conditions in special categories of insured persons is included, among others, in the amendments of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs that were submitted in the bill for the modernization of EFKA. At the same time, the granting of unemployment benefits to seasonal companies is facilitated and organizational issues of NAT are resolved, with the aim of improving its operation.
Specifically:
Extension of insurance capacity for one year without conditions for vulnerable social groups
On March 1, the insurance capacity is renewed, ie the access to medical care of those who in the previous year had completed at least 50 days (or two months) of insurance.
The proposed regulation, however, unconditionally extends for one year the insurance capacity of the insured (and their family members) for whom the insurance capacity was renewed by special provisions until 2020. These include, inter alia, long-term unemployed aged 29-55 and the uninsured elderly.
In addition, the same provision extends the insurance coverage of workers who during the previous year continued to suffer from the effects of the pandemic and received special purpose compensation from the Ministry of Labor for a period of at least two months (such as art and culture professionals, seasonal workers, etc.).
Extension of staff contracts in welfare structures to deal with the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic
According to an announcement of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the contracts of auxiliary medical, nursing, other auxiliary and all kinds of personnel, concluded in the context of dealing with emergencies due to the coronavirus pandemic, are extended until September 30, 2022.
“Despite the high rates of vaccination of the guests in these welfare structures, as well as the employees in them, the risks of the pandemic have not been eliminated and, given that the guests in the welfare structures are among the most vulnerable groups, maximum protection is required. which is guaranteed – among others – by the staff hired for this purpose “, the announcement points out.
Expanding the concept of seasonality of enterprises for unemployment subsidy especially for 2021
Specifically for the year 2021, in order to designate a job as seasonal, it is stipulated that, for the period of the calendar year in which it does not operate, it does not employ more than 27% of the average staff employed during the peak period of its activity, (instead of 25% which is the general provision).
According to the Ministry of Labor, this amendment is exceptional for the year 2021, as the extreme weather conditions and especially the frost, which took place last spring, caused the lack of raw materials in seasonal enterprises, such as those related to the canning, processing, packaging and sorting of agricultural products, etc., with the result that they employ less seasonal staff than in previous years and risk that workers will not be eligible for unemployment benefits, as they do not exceed the permanent staff employed in such enterprises .
Settings for NAT
In order to simplify the procedures and improve the efficiency of the Maritime Retirement Fund (NAT), the Special Account for Sailors’ Family Allowances (ELOEN) is included, which has as its object the granting of family allowances to Greek sailors, who are insured in the N.
As the amounts related to the family allowances are collected, through the nautical records by NAT and are then attributed to EL.OEN, it was deemed expedient and functionally necessary for ELOEN to join NAT and to continue its operation in in it with full financial, accounting and property autonomy.
The proposed arrangements define the necessary technical and procedural parameters of integration, in a way that will ensure the continuity of operation and the normal payment of family benefits to the beneficiaries. It is not explicitly stated that the existing legal framework regarding the terms and conditions of receiving the family allowance and its beneficiaries, which remain unchanged, will continue to apply.
“Finally, the framework of NAT’s governing bodies is being updated and made more flexible, an effort that will continue with the codification of the Fund’s fragmented legislation,” the Ministry of Labor said in a statement.
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