“Unemployment fell to 11.9% in February 2022, according to Eurostat data, and this is not an April Fool’s joke!” reports the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Kostis Hatzidakis, in a post on his personal Facebook account.
“Of course, all those who call themselves progressives lose their word when good news is announced about the further fall of unemployment in our country. Do they prefer unemployment to remain high? Or are they upset because their myth that we are the anti-workers is collapsing? ; ” Mr. Hatzidakis asks and emphasizes that the Eurostat data underline “the results of our effort and in fact in an environment of great difficulties”.
He adds: “It is not only that unemployment has decreased by 5.3 percentage points compared to the SYRIZA government (from 17.2% to 11.9%). It is also that, since February 2021, it has fallen by 4 “3 percentage points. It is also important that youth unemployment has fallen by 9.1% compared to February last year. And all this in the midst of a coronavirus and, while most analysts were warning of the exact opposite results!”
“However”, as the Minister of Labor notes, “the fall of 5.3 percentage points with the government of New Democracy was not accidental. It is a result of our fiscal, budgetary, licensing, labor and insurance policies. From the side of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, we have contributed to the much-accused Labor Protection Act, but it certainly combines the goal of protecting workers with the goal of boosting competitiveness and attracting investment. but also with the tripling of the rhythms in the programs of OAED.
We are now implementing a series of policies that will make a significant contribution to the employment prospects of the unemployed. Through OAED programs, a total of 86,000 new jobs are sought to be created in 2022. At the same time, the program of 150,000 positions continues, which subsidizes from the state budget all the insurance contributions of employee and employer for a period of six months. The program “First Badge” is still being implemented for young people aged 18-29 who do not have previous service, which, as I announced yesterday, we will make much more attractive. While just yesterday we announced together with the governor of OAED, Spyros Protopsaltis, a new program for 10,000 young people, up to 29 years old, in Attica and Central Macedonia for seven months, with a fee of the minimum wage.
And the effort is not limited to these: A program is being promoted to train 150,000 people in digital and “green” skills, with resources from the Recovery Fund and which will run in the coming months and, in parallel, with the “Jobs Again” bill. We aim for our unemployed fellow citizens to acquire new weapons in their quest to find work. A typical example is the work allowance, which we are instituting for the first time, so that the unemployed person receives 50% of the unemployment benefit in the period between his / her employment until the end of the time in which he / she would receive the unemployment benefit “.
“Obviously, I do not note what I have said so far, to celebrate, because the unemployment rate remains high and that is why we will remain vigilant. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, after all, is straining the economic climate throughout Europe. “The government’s policy is on track. All the evidence shows that only when it is not convenient for those who oppose cholera, they pretend to ignore it.” points out Mr. Hatzidakis.
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
