Unemployment benefits will be increased to 1,200 euros

Radical changes are being promoted by the Ministry of Labor and the State Employment Service in terms of changing the calculation of unemployment benefits. The amount of the benefit will increase to 70% of the citizen’s salary in the period preceding dismissal.

The connection between the benefit and the salary will have two ceilings: a maximum of 1100 to 1200 euros (for 3 or 4 months) and a minimum, which is the basic allowance, in this case amounting to 479 euros per month.

Benefit reform is one of the most important. The issue is included in the Recovery Fund program and will be implemented in 2024, first in a pilot phase for a quarter or six months, and then (by the end of the year) the changes will be implemented everywhere (depending on the total number of unemployed).

OECD experts are also involved in planning changes to the new manual. A competent official who was asked about this categorically ruled out any reduction in the amount. And when asked whether the scenarios under consideration provide for doubling the period of its payment under certain conditions, he replied that “this is possible.”

Scenarios for payment of unemployment benefits
According to the newspaper “Ελεύθερος Τύπος”, the following are considered as scenarios for a new unemployment benefit:

• Cancellation of the link between unemployment benefits and the minimum wage (for specific categories) and linking it to the average real salary of workers (from 55% to 70% of the amount).
• Increasing the duration of benefit payment to 24 months, depending on the length of insurance (number of ensim) and payment of unemployment contributions. The amount will be high, for example, 70% of the salary for the first 3-4 months and will gradually decrease to the basic amount (479 e).
• The unemployed, along with the payment of an increased amount of benefits, are obliged to participate in a training program to acquire the professional knowledge they need in the future for subsequent employment. Attending training courses is also a condition for payment of the increased benefit.
• Changing the criteria for the minimum number of working days required for seasonal workers to re-receive unemployment benefits.

Four scales, from 55% to 70%

The ratio of wages and benefits is likely, according to the considered scenarios, to have 4 subsidy scales depending on length of service. One version being explored is that:

1. the benefit is 70% of wages for those who have worked for at least 5 years or more,
2. up to 65% for those who have worked for 24 months,
3. up to 60% with 12 months of operation,
4. up to 55% with 6 months of work.

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