The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Kostis Hatzidakis, stressed that the social policy of the government is a policy with results, despite the unfavorable situation.
Their 10 main axes of the government project on labor, insurance and social protection, presented the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Kostis Hatzidakisin the current cabinet, stressing that the social policy of the government is a policy with result, despite the unfavorable situation.
Regarding pensions, Mr. Hatzidakis reminded that, in addition to the individual increases, which have, so far, been granted to hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries, in the new year will be given, for the first time in 12 years, increases in pensions, while the solidarity levy should also be abolished.
On the issue of outstanding pensions, the Minister of Labor noted that the government has succeeded in more than doubling the rate of issuance of new pensions, achieving historic records. It is indicative that, in the first five months of 2022, almost as many pensions have been issued as in the whole of 2019. In addition, the pre-2019 outstanding issues have been almost eliminatedwhile, by the end of August, the liquidation of all applications submitted by 2021 will be completed.
He also referred to the insurance reform for the new generation, which ensures higher supplementary pensions for young people with the system of individual “piggy banks”, while shielding the viability of the insurance system.
Mr. Hatzidakis made special reference to the de-escalation of unemployment, which has decreased by 4.8 percentage points, to 12.5% ​​(which is the lowest level of the last 12 years), from 17.3% in July 2019 As he underlined, the Ministry of Labor has, so far, spent more than 10 billion euros to support workers and the unemployed from the effects of the pandemic, while another 2.7 billion euros have been allocated for the creation of new jobs. According to an information note, “it is indicative that, despite the pandemic, the rate of job creation through the Public Employment Service (former OAED), has tripled, as 31,661 jobs are created per year compared to 10,627 in the four-year SYRIZA”.
Referring to the recent law on the reform of OAED, the Minister of Labor pointed out that the intention of the government is to offer real support to those in need and actively looking for work. At the same time, training is becoming a “weapon” in the hands of the unemployed, to find the job they want, with the active involvement of universities and large international companies.
Regarding the workingMr. Hatzidakis stressed that anachronistic regulations in the labor market have been abolished and a modern European framework has been created, which empowers the employee, with the Digital Work Card, the establishment of an Independent Labor Inspection Authority, the right to disconnect for teleworkers, the possibility of and the above rights for employees on platforms.
Regarding social protection, the Minister of Labor pointed out that the government spent over 4.7 billion euros in 2021 for social benefits and unemployment benefitsexcluding benefits in kind, such as school meals and daycare vouchers.
As underlined in the information note, “with the law on strengthening social protection, the government has made significant institutional changes in the issue of child protection by establishing a new framework for the prevention and treatment of child abuse, the creation of semi-autonomous living structures for persons over 15 years of age and the promotion of adoption and foster care institutions.
At the same time, a comprehensive plan is being implemented to improve the lives of people with disabilities through interventions aimed at facilitating their daily lives (disability card, personal assistant) as well as their integration or reintegration into the world of work.
The Minister of Labor stressed that the government actively supports the family and young parents by introducing the birth allowance, but also by strengthening child care services. He made special reference to the “Neighborhood Nanny” program, which has been launched, but also to the creation of childcare units in 120 large companies.
Mr. Hatzidakis also referred to the important steps that have been taken in the issues of equality, which, as he said, result in Greece being in the 12 countries in the world with full legal equality of men and women, but also in the measures taken for the tackling violence and harassment both at work and in the family environment.
The Minister of Labor underlined that the facilitation of the daily life of the citizen is a central concern of the government and mentioned as an example the successful operation of the telephone line 1555, “which put an end to the chaos with the downed telephones of the ministry and the supervised bodies”.
Concluding his presentation, Mr. Hatzidakis referred to the main priorities of government policy in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs for the next period, which include the completion of the implementation of the Digital Work Card, the implementation of a new housing policy, the preparation of an action plan to of the demographic and the full operation of the Auxiliary Insurance Fund.
