In the announcement of a new employment enhancement program for the areas of Western Macedonia and Megalopolis, the Minister of Labor and Social Security Niki Kerameos proceeded in an interview today at the Kozani Chamber of Commerce.

It is a program aimed at creating 1000 budget jobs of 10.7m euros and 12 months. According to the Labor Minister ‘the program will enhance two cases unemployedN, those associated in any way with lignite mining activity and electricity production and with the unemployed of all other specialties“

The program in the case of the unemployed will subsidize 75% of the wage costs, ie 830 euros per month and in the case of those linked to the fair transition, it will boost € 1185 per month, ie 100% wage costs.

As he stated, “the ministerial decision has been signed and the next time will be given the possibility of applying through the information system”.

Ms. Kerameos reminded that the work grant for 55 years or older is already running, a program that has allowed 26,500 citizens to complete their experience so that they could retire and pointed out “We continue this successful practice with the grant to 75% of the salary for a plus one year“

Beneficiaries of the program are Municipalities, Regions, Public Organizations and All NPAs. “We want to support our fellow citizens who want to find a job to close their work life and this is one of the most important DPA programs“He noted.

In terms of minimum wage The Minister of Labor stated that ‘very soon the government will announce a new increase in“, Stressed that in the coming days she would bring her ministry’s proposal to the cabinet”to increase from April 1st 2025” He clarified that “the proposal of the minimum wage in the private sector will also include the protection of the minimum wage in the public sector and as he stressed is something we do for the first time.”

Its commander Public service (DPA) Spyros Protopsaltis stated that “in the last 5 years we have been given in Western Macedonia in the form of EUR 88 million, of which EUR 83.7 million have been given to employment and training programs and EUR 3.57 million have been provided by other benefits by the organization”. Also, social policy programs have enhanced 57,709 beneficiaries in social tourism, 5,811 beneficiaries in spectacle checks, 30,680 beneficiaries for book purchase and 17016 beneficiaries with camp programs. Referring to the reduction of unemployment, he stressed that “in 2019 we received unemployment in western Macedonia at 23% and today we are talking at 11%. We have no answers to all the challenges, “said Protopsaltis but” we accept proposals for the greater improvement of unemployment indicators. “

Earlier, the Minister of Labor & Social Security, accompanied by Public Employment Commander Spyros Protopsalti, visited the Labor Housing Complex in Kyrakalis Grevena in order to see the development of their integration work. These are 80 workers’ houses that started in 2003 but not completed to date. According to Mrs Kerameos, “the working houses are expected to be delivered to the beneficiaries by the end of 2025”.