Parliament: In the Plenary Session the bill ‘Jobs Again’

The bill of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is introduced in the Plenary Session for discussion and voting, which transforms the Labor Employment Organization (OAED) into a Public Employment Service (DYPA) and introduces regulations for the upgrading of the labor force. interconnected with the needs of the labor market, subsidized continuing vocational training.

The bill introduces new digital tools (digital DYPA card, digital register, digital individual action plan), aimed at facilitating the unemployed to re-enter the labor market.

The role of the social partners is envisaged in the development of actions and programs related to vocational training and the upgrading of skills of the professional staff, through the “Special Vocational Training Account” (ELEK), which will be managed by a legal entity set up by the social partners.

According to the Ministry of Labor:

– A work allowance is introduced for the first time for the subsidized unemployed who find a job, who in addition to their salary will continue to receive 50% of the unemployment benefit until the scheduled date.

– For the first time, a bonus of 300 euros is provided to the long-term (over 5 years) unemployed who prepare an Individual Action Plan.

– Income criteria are introduced for the maintenance of a series of benefits, benefits, etc., provided for those registered in the Unemployed Register of OAED. The aim of the regulation is to deal with the phenomena of abuse and fraud, which were identified after cross-checks, which revealed cases of high-income persons who remained for years registered in the Register. These criteria apply to the payment of the heating allowance and do not affect the unemployment benefit, which will continue to be granted without income criteria, nor the long-term unemployment benefit and the allowance for self-employed persons, for whom the benefits remain. provided for by applicable law. Also, the regime governing the granting of the Social Household Tariff (CTO) for electricity, the discount or exemption from ENFIA and the heating allowance does not change.

– Deletion from the Unemployment Register for two years and termination of the unemployment benefit after three denials of suitable jobs, as well as deletion from the Register for six months and termination of the unemployment benefit for refusal to participate in a training action. A suitable job is considered to be that which corresponds to the professional specialty, knowledge, skills, abilities, formal and substantive qualifications, professional goals and place of permanent residence of the job seeker, previous employment and the salary of the unemployed.

The mechanism for diagnosing labor market needs is being upgraded in order for training and employment programs to meet the real needs of the market.

– The “Individual Skills Account” is established, a digital tool in the hands of the citizen, where the skills, trainings and certifications that the trainee receives or is entitled to will be recorded.

– A grid of regulations is introduced with the aim of consolidating the triptych “Evaluation – Quality – Certification” in the vocational training system and the fees are linked to the results. Particularly:

• It is stipulated that the provider is not allowed to pay more than 40% of the fee per beneficiary if the beneficiary has not completed the monitoring of the program, and more than 70% if the beneficiary has not been successfully certified for the completion of the program.

• A Digital Portal for Skills is established on the website skills.gov.gr, so that at the touch of a button, citizens and institutions are informed about skills and training issues.

The bill promotes the expansion of the responsibilities of DYPA (Public Employment Service, as it is renamed OAED), so that it generally covers the housing needs of young people.

In particular, regulations are introduced that facilitate both the acquisition / construction of real estate that will be used to house employees, the unemployed and their families, as well as the utilization of DYPA’s property to increase its income. Also, in this context, the responsibilities of DYPA are extended, so that in addition to covering the housing needs of the workforce, DYPA can also deal with the housing needs of young people, through the provision of benefits and the implementation of relevant programs.

The new regulations allow DYPA to acquire unstructured and structured real estate to fulfill the purposes related to housing assistance, which it has acquired as the successor of the Workers’ Housing Organization. It is also envisaged that the Agency may partner with public or private bodies on the construction of real estate, with the aim of promoting government policies regarding the housing protection of the workforce and young people.

For the properties owned by DYPA that are not intended to cover the housing needs of the employees, regulations are introduced that will allow the better exploitation and the increase of its incomes. In this context, the conclusion of long-term leases is allowed, the partnership with individuals who can undertake the construction of unstructured real estate, the guarantees that they will have to provide in order to participate in the relevant tenders, etc.

The bill provides for the abolition, from 1-1-2023, of the “Single Account for the Implementation of Social Policies” (ELEKP), defines the manner of allocation of its resources, and provides for the establishment of a special account under the name “Special Vocational Training Account” (ELEK).

Source: AMPE