The Prime Minister Antonis Samaras announced the government’s ambitious plans to invest 1.5 billion euros is various programs intended to tackle the unemployment problem in Greece, by creating 440,000 job opportunities in the next two years.
Mr. Samaras asserted that halting the rate of unemployment after six years of recession was the first step in this direction and spoke of the three main set of measures intended to tackle the dramatic unemployment problem.
The first set of programs can be implemented immediately and concerns about 114,000 unemployed; the set includes various programs, such as providing subsidies to companies that hire unemployed aged 30 to 66, to funding innovative ideas and providing greater incentives to encourage the employment of vulnerable groups of people.
The second set is focused on youth employment and will provide experience and training for about 240,000 young people (up to the age of 24) who are not currently employed or studying. The idea is to improve skills and provide accreditation in order to become more competitive.
The third set of programs concerns 90,000 beneficiaries, most of whom are from families where no member has a job. By using NSRF funds, the government hopes to find community service employment in the public sector and local government.
Additionally, Mr. Samaras announced a number of healthcare initiatives to support vulnerable social groups. Amongst these measures are extending insurance coverage for IKA-ETAM insurance policy holders and unemployed, relaxing criteria for disability benefits and retirement in the agricultural sector
