Greece: Living on a Basic Salary

From April 1, the new minimum wage in our country is 830 euros gross. Three salaried employees said how much this increase from 780 euros in force until today will affect low-paid workers in our country.

Vasso, 30 years old

According to Vasso, 30, who has been working as a barista at one of Egaleo's cafes for the past two years, the difference is very small because, as she puts it, “the premium is about the same as her mobile phone bill.” “Of course, any increase is welcome, but I expected it to be larger,” says the young woman.

The salary she agreed on with her employer is basic, for five days of eight-hour work on an open-ended contract. “I get 780 euros gross, of course I get paid extra for all the Sundays I work, and I also get some money in tips. But even taking this into account, the net income I receive per month rarely exceeds 800 euros net (“net”, after deducting all taxes). “Until last year, when I lived alone, I counted every cent I spent,” says the worker.

Vasso has been living with his partner, who works as a truck driver, for a year now. His salary is about 1,500 euros net per month. They manage their finances carefully, but for Vasso, the fact that she shares monthly expenses with someone else makes a huge difference.

“Since I was 18 years old, when I left my hometown, I have been living alone and for ten years now I have been “supporting myself.” The highest salary I ever received was 1000 euros when I worked seasonally on the islands. Now I don’t have the strength to do it, the hours and conditions were tiring,” the interlocutor continues her story.

Rising rents, inflated bills, and rising food prices drove Vasso to despair. “Finding a roommate at this age, after learning to live on my own for so many years, became a challenge for me. And if I hadn’t met my partner, I don’t know what I would have done.” Vaso is not shy to admit that under different, better financial conditions, the couple's cohabitation might not have happened so quickly. “Of course at some point we would have stayed together because we love each other very much, but at the same time, now that there are two of us, everything has become easier. This is true”.

Haris, 25 years old

Haris, 25, is also at the stage described by Vasso, as he lives and supports himself without family support. He has been working as a private employee in the entertainment industry for the past year and a half. His schedule is not fixed, but when he works full time, he receives 670 euros net plus overtime, which he is usually paid. According to him, “there is no way the minimum wage will be enough for Greece in 2024, especially if you live alone. You don’t have any financial support from anywhere else, and you live in another city, away from your relatives.” He himself, ideally, would like to work in the field he studied, namely in the field of sound engineering.

“My industry primarily does not fall into the category of “salaried” workers, so the risk is very high. In other words, I can work one month but be unemployed for the next three. So I decided to work two jobs at the same time: in the morning I work as a private employee, and in the evening I take on projects as a sound engineer for artists, even for very little money.” Haris's dream is to save some money and create your own line of clothing and jewelry: “But with a basic salary, income is slightly more than basic household expenses. There have been cases when a “break in work” could put me in a difficult situation, resulting in there was a month left before receiving the next salary (in another place), and not vice versa“

Rania, 37 years old, secretary

Rania, 37, a mother of two small children aged four and two, is also concerned about saving money. According to her, she has been working since she was 18 years old. “Sometimes I worked as a waitress, a nurse and a saleswoman. Shortly before I became pregnant with my eldest daughter, I began working as a secretary at the company where I still work today. I think I almost never stopped working – during both pregnancies I was in the office until the eighth month.” Rania's salary has undergone various fluctuations and has now stabilized at €750 net. He works 8 hours, five days a week. “I couldn’t imagine that at this age we would still depend on our parents,” says the woman, the mother of the family.

Unlike Vasso and Haris, she is not paid for the overtime that inevitably accrues during the week. “If I didn’t have children, I might want to invest in my own business. But now there is a question of finding a means of subsistence. My husband is a civil servant and, despite what most people think otherwise, his salary is just over €1,000.”

When the couple got married 7 years ago, they had very a different vision of your family happiness. According to Rania, her life is now dominated by stress and obligations. “I couldn’t imagine that at this age we would still be dependent on our parents. Because it’s a reality, our parents take care of the children when we don’t have time, and unofficially they also bear part of their expenses.” For Rania, the minimum wage should reach 1,000 euros net to match the prices of products and services that the average Greek family needs. “Our goal is to be able to get out of rent and buy our own home, of course, on credit. And despite the difficulties, I believe that we will succeed.”

Source link