K. Hatzidakis: It will return a significant dividend to employees from the economic recovery of the coming years

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Kostis Hatzidakis, presented the results and objectives of the government’s policy for reducing unemployment and boosting workers’ incomes, speaking today, Tuesday, at the International Seminar on European Studies, entitled “Strengthening the whole European dialogue. in the Western Balkans for the development and strengthening of democracy and civil society “.

The seminar is organized by the Movement of Christian Democrats of Italy (MCL, Movimento Cristiano Lavoratori) and the European Center for Workers’ Questions (co-organizers the DAKE Private Sector and the Training Center of the Christian Democrats of Italy).

“Unemployment fell from 17.3% in the summer of 2019 to 13.3% last September. This did not happen by chance. It is a result of the tax, licensing, insurance and labor policy of the government and despite the crisis “According to the forecasts of the Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy Program 2022-2025, unemployment is projected to fall to 12.5% ​​in 2022 and eventually fall below 10% in 2025”, said Mr. Hatzidakis.

In terms of income, he noted that the real per capita income of Greek households increased by 7.2% in the first half of 2021, compared to the corresponding half of 2020, while the policies implemented in the last two years (reduction of insurance contributions, interventions in taxation, increase of the minimum wage), are equivalent to an improvement in the income of employees who are paid the minimum wage from 305 to 534 euros per year.

“As the economy enters a positive trajectory and given that workers have been under a lot of pressure over the last decade, we are determined that the strong economic recovery we expect in the coming years will return a significant dividend to workers, always within the strengths of the economy. This will be seen in the next phase of the definition of the minimum wage in the first half of 2022 “, pointed out Mr. Hatzidakis.

The Minister also referred to the two important reform changes that have been adopted recently, which will have a positive impact on both the economy and workers, namely:

– The Law on Labor Protection which includes, among other things, the regulations for the Digital Work Card, the new larger parental leave, the possibility of “reconciliation” of the professional and personal life of the employees, the “right of disconnection” in telework and

– The Insurance Reform for the New Generation that introduces the “individual piggy banks” and leads to a significant increase in supplementary pensions, as shown by data from countries that have adopted a similar model.

This is followed by the legislative reform of training and retraining with which, as he said, “we aspire to face a structural weakness of the Greek economy: The fact that we are last in Europe in relation to the skills of the workforce”.

Referring to the importance of social dialogue, he stressed that it is at the core of the European social model and has contributed, despite its weaknesses and problems, to the progress made in the quest for European integration.

“We in Greece have experienced the last decade, a deep and prolonged economic crisis with multiple effects on the economy, but also on social peace. A key lesson of this period is the need for both the state and the social partners to move forward with maturity. Differences between employers and employees are common, but finding common denominators is to the benefit of both parties, social cohesion and development, because, as I always emphasize, there can be no workers without employers “But there can be no business with the protesting workers! Therefore, we must always reconcile the goal of supporting the competitiveness of the economy with the goal of social protection,” concluded Mr. Hatzidakis.