Greek Employment Policies

Greece: In-work poverty and labour market segmentation
A Study of National Policies

By D.Ziomas, N. Bouzas & N. Spyropoulou
Institute of Social Policy
National Centre for Social Research - EKKE

Working poverty in Greece has not been recognized as a significant policy issue despite the fact that the in-work at risk of poverty rate remains high for some years now (13% in 2005, 14% in 2008), much higher than the EU average (8% in 2008), and which, in turn contributes quite a lot to the whole poverty. The “at risk of poverty rate” in Greece continues to remain over the last 10 years or so at high levels (20% in 2008), being among the highest in the EU.
Apparently, as evidence suggests, the correlation between poverty and working poverty is positive and rather strong in Greece, while in-work poverty hits more the older workers, the employed persons with low educational level and those working with atypical forms of employment. What is of rising concern, however, although hard data is not available, is that the recent sharp deterioration of the overall fiscal position of the country has already began to trigger an increase of in-work poverty and overall poverty, which is expected to worsen further in the future.

Minimum Income Schemes in Greece
A Study of National Policies

NATIONAL STRATEGY REPORT ON SOCIAL PROTECTION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
2008-2010

The international financial turmoil of the last two years had an inevitable financial and social impact on our country as well. Soaring oil and food prices in the international market has impacted inflation and the Greek economy growth rate. Inflation accelerated 1 and is forecasted to reach around 4% in 2008 compared to 3% in 2007, slightly closing the gap with the euro area inflation rate. It is a fact that low income groups and persons faced with poverty risk are feeling the pressure. Nevertheless, growth rate is maintained at a rather high level (3.5% during the first 2008 quarter compared to Euro area’s 1.8% averages). The increased financial activity had a positive impact on employment indicators, significantly improved during the last two years and continuing to improve.
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Study on Povery and Social Exclusion in Rural Areas - GREECE
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/docs/social_inclusion/2008/rural_poverty_annex_el_en.pdf

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Monitoring progress towards the objectives of the European Strategy for Social
Protection and Social Inclusion - Brussels, 6.10.2008
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/docs/social_inclusion/2008/omc_monitoring_en.pdf

LABOUR INSTITUTE
GREEK GENERAL CONFEDERATION OF LABOUR (GSEE) –CONFEDERATION OF PUBLIC SERVANTS (ADEDY)
Actuarial study for social security foundation- single insurance fund of salaried employees (IKA - ETAM)
Main conclusion and recommendations
http://www.inegsee.gr/Actuarial_study_2005eng.pdf

ΙΝΕ-ΓΣΣΕ has conducted an Actuarian study for the IKA pension funds.
see http://www.inegsee.gr/Actuarial_study_2005eng.pdf http://www.inegsee.gr/Actuarial_study_2005eng.pdf

See report on Greece “Employment and labour market policies for an ageing workforce and initiatives at the workplace” on www.sextant.gr

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions undertook work to find good practices amongst employers towards their older workers in Greece in 1996 and again in 2006. http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef07057.htm

They also found good practice for employers in Cyprus in 2007 http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef070521.htm

The Economic and Social Committee of Greece (OKE) has run an active ageing set of projects under the EU EQUAL programme. For a link to this in English see http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/equal/data/document/0801_athens_empeiria_2.pdf

As part of the Peer Review on Training see http://www.mutual-learning-employment.net/peerreviews/2003/01/20-21
About Greece see http://pdf.mutual-learning-employment.net/pdf/finland03/greeceFIN03.pdf
While also see the report on the sad state of training and education for older Greek workers.
http://pdf.mutual-learning-employment.net/pdf/IS07/Greece_IS07.pdf