M. Syregela: The ‘Neighbors of the Neighborhood’ program will start as a pilot in the coming days

The “Neighborhood Nanny” program, which is co-financed by the NSRF, will be launched on a pilot basis in the coming days, while some of the actions that will be implemented in the next period, for single-parent families, are babysitting facilities in large companies. , the equality label for companies promoting equal treatment and reconciliation policies and the Innovation Center will focus on the effective participation of women and girls in the fields of technology, information technology, communications and professions related to sciences such as mathematics and new technologies.

This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs in charge of Demographic Policy and Family, Maria Syregela, presenting the measures adopted by the government to support families and work, at an online event of KMOP – Center for Social Action and Innovation Single parents and Pandemic: Challenges and good practices “.

According to a relevant announcement, the Undersecretary referred, among other things, to paternity leave and the right to telework and flexible working hours for parents and carers, the extension of maternity leave 9 weeks after birth, the extension of the special maternity leave 6 months for adoptive women and the protection of parents from dismissal for a period of time. Especially for single parents, he mentioned the parental leave for 8 months, of which 4 months are subsidized by OAED, and the paid leave for up to 6 working days each calendar year in case of illness of minor children. Ms. Syregela also referred to the childbirth allowance of 2,000 euros, the increase of the tax-free limit to 1,000 euros per child, the reduction of VAT on baby items from 24% to 13%, the expansion of funding and income criteria for vouchers for kindergartens and in the OAED second business opportunity program for single-parent families and those women who have suffered domestic violence that includes an additional score of 60%. As she said, some of the actions that will be implemented in the next period are the baby and infant care areas in large companies, the equality label for companies that promote equal treatment and reconciliation policies and the Innovation Center that will promote the effective participation of women. and girls in the fields of technology, information technology, communications but also in professions related to sciences such as mathematics and new technologies.

“Neighborhood Nannies”

Ms. Syregela made a special reference to the program “Neighborhood Nannies”, which will start as a pilot in the coming days and which, as she said, introduces for the first time in Greece the model of institutionally organized home care for infants and toddlers . This program also achieves the support of working mothers or guardians to re-enter the labor market and to enhance their professional careers, but also to strengthen unemployed women and reduce undeclared work in the field of care. “At the same time, this program contains flexibility and contributes to the autonomy and independence of working mothers, since the individual income of each woman is taken into account and not the family income”, stressed the Deputy Minister of Labor. As he said, this serves especially the single parents but also the parents who have the exclusive parental care, since they can choose the way of the provided care that serves them. He even announced new actions in the coming period to strengthen and care for families and support women and work.

28% of the total are single parent families in Greece

Antonia Torrens, General Manager of KMOP and Founder of the Live Without Bullying Program, spoke about the challenges faced by single-parent families. “Evidence and experience show that single-parent families face serious problems. Many single parents are unable to meet their financial obligations and meet the basic needs of their family, find it difficult to work for the care needs of their children, while “In the problems we must not forget the absence of contact of the children with their second parent”, said Ms. Torrens. Especially during the pandemic, he added, the challenges for single parents increased, as in addition to job uncertainty, the closure of schools and the inability to contact relatives or friends who might be able to help worked.

According to data presented by Irini Tsesmeli, president of the Association of Single-Parent Families and Women, at the moment single-parent families account for about 28% of all families in Greece. Ms. Tsesmeli focused on the financial problems faced by single-parent families and especially mothers with minor children and the need for state support – both in terms of simplifying the procedures for granting single parental benefits and in terms of finding work. He stressed, in fact, that recently there has been a large increase in the number of families who are evicted from the houses they rent because they do not have the ability to afford. For this reason, the Association of Single-Parent Family and Women has taken the initiative, in collaboration with private bodies, to seek space to form a permanent structure specifically for single-parent families.

“I understand that the subsidy policy in a country, especially when the phenomenon of single parenthood is so great and intense, is difficult, but families that are widowed or divorced should be supported in the first place, because they do not have the resources to do so. “Ms. Tsesmeli stressed, however, describing as very positive the fact that this year the government plans to stop the presumptions, as, as she said, this will help the single-parent families, which due to presumptions are not entitled to the benefits they should be entitled to. .

The goals of the “time bank”

Apostolos Makris, for his part, referred to the family adoption program, which has been implemented in recent years by the Ark of the World and deals with single-parent families – mainly mothers. Through this program, the Ark offers adoption not only of children but also of those mothers who are facing financial problems. We essentially support and empower the single parent, so that first of all they feel this security, to be empowered and to understand what their responsibilities are as a parent, and then we offer legal and psychological support, medical care and counseling regarding their integration. in the labor market, said Mr. Makris. Also, through its participation in a new, European pilot program, the Ark will welcome from the end of March an additional 50 single-parent families in order to support them in terms of entering the labor market.

The event took place in the framework of the European initiative ParentBank, in which KMOP participates, with the aim of integrating low-paid single parents into the labor market. ParentBank administrator Ariadne Matraka presented the program and actions that have been implemented, while making special reference to the “time bank” created to encourage low-income single parents to exchange a variety of services and jobs that can not be covered financially. According to Ms. Matraka, the goal of the “time bank” is to enable single parents to exchange services – such as home help, childcare, education, etc. – with unit of transaction per year and not money. The “time bank” has a special social utility as, on the one hand it can cover the basic needs of each household without the mediation of money, on the other hand it contributes to the creation of solidarity bonds between the members by strengthening the social fabric of the area.