“Social policy is not a declaration. We aim for a more modern framework to help both the unemployed and the working people. , without a corresponding policy on the substance “.
These remarks were made by the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking on Wednesday at an event organized by the Institute of Democracy Konstantinos Karamanlis on the bill “Jobs again”, which has been put to public consultation.
The event was greeted by the director of the Scientific Council of the Foundation, Panos Stathopoulos, coordinated by journalist Christina Vidou and attended by the OAED Governor, Spyros Protopsaltis, the Director of Employment and Labor Market, General Ioannis GSEE, Christos Goulas.
Mr. Hatzidakis pointed out that the regulations of the bill are structured in three axes which are:
– The modernization of OAED with new digital tools such as the digital register, the individual digital action plan for job seekers, the utilization of the property of the Organization for the exercise of housing policy, the delimitation of relations with the social partners.
– The re-approach of the issue of benefits in order to support the real unemployed and those who really want to find a job. “We set criteria to deal with abuses and why the taxpayer wants his money to take place,” said Mr. Hatzidakis, while reiterating that the income criteria do not relate to unemployment benefits but other benefits such as social tourism, transportation, etc. ., provided for those registered in the register. He typically spoke of a “black hole” in the OAED register, referring to the fact that 1.1 million remain registered there, regardless of developments in the labor market and the reduction of unemployment recorded by ELSTAT and Eurostat to 12.8%. from 17.2% in 2019.
At the same time, a work allowance (50% of the unemployment benefit) is introduced for the first time for the subsidized unemployed who find a job and a premium of 300 euros for the long-term (over 5 years) unemployed who draw up an individual digital action plan.
– The modernization of training, an area in which, as the Minister said, several billion have been given but the country is in the last positions in the EU in terms of skills. “We try to look at training in a new, European way and with a spirit of common sense so that money takes its place. This money belongs to the employed and the unemployed and we must manage it with the required respect. That is why we link earnings with results. “and we establish obligations for both trainees and training providers based on the threefold evaluation – quality – certification. It is not a punishment, it is better management of public money”, said Mr. Hatzidakis.
Mr. Ioannou underlined that the bill is moving in a positive direction, because he adds, as he said, to the effort we must make as a country to help the unemployed find jobs and businesses to meet their needs. He added, however, that the result would be judged in practice. On the subject of training, he noted that the country has spent in recent years 25 times the amount of 2 billion expected from the Fund for Recovery and Resilience in this area, and has not used them properly. He also noted the need to address undeclared and uninsured work
Mr. Goulas stressed that it is necessary to upgrade the training, the skills of the human resources and OAED, however he expressed objections to the regulations of the bill. He called for more flexible criteria in relation to the reduction of the trainees’ allowance, increase of the labor allowance for the part-time employees who have a salary below the minimum wage, greater participation of the social partners, etc.
Mr. Protopsaltis noted that the goal of the bill is to transform OAED into a modern employment service that will focus on active policies for faster reintegration of the unemployed into the labor market. “The bill reflects the government’s effort to turn OAED into an intermediary in the labor market so that the unemployed and businesses can find work. The last substantial change in the Organization took place in 2001. The world and the labor market are changing, we must change and we “, he added. Referring to the issues of training, he stressed that OAED is called upon to respond to a huge opportunity and challenge.
Source: Capital
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