Domna Michailidou: “Greece is the champion in maternity benefits according to the OECD”
For the maternity allowance
“Motherhood knows no profession, motherhood is a quality in itself. That’s why last week we made a big change by extending the maternity allowance to farmers, freelancers and self-employed women, through a new platform. Until recently, the following paradox existed: If you were a mother employed by the State, you received a maternity allowance for 9 months. If you were an employed mother in the private sector you received maternity pay for six months. And if you were a farmer, self-employed or self-employed, you got nothing. We changed these with the aim of strengthening motherhood. First we increased the working mother’s months from six to nine, and then we extended the benefit to all mothers. Last week, the platform was opened so that self-employed people can finally get the minimum wage for 9 months, i.e. around 7,500 euros. Single-parent families, women who have had a child through adoption or surrogate as well as same-sex couples are also entitled to the allowance. The right to maternity allowance is transferable to the father for 7 months. For example, if the mother’s salary or income is higher than the father’s, it is in the family’s best interests for the mother to return to work and for the father to receive the allowance. If one includes the new increased birth allowance in the maternity allowance, we arrive at 1100 euros per month net. Since the basic condition for receiving this allowance is to have insurance capacity, we believe that in the near future many mothers will rush to settle their debts in order to receive it too. In summary I want to say that at the moment in terms of maternity benefits we are the second country in the OECD»
For Christmas, Easter and holiday allowance retrospectives (June 2015-May 2016)
“We are awaiting the decision of the Supreme Special Court which is the only one competent to decide. Therefore, whether or not they are given retroactively depends on the decision of the Supreme Special Court that will be issued in the coming months».
For pensioners’ retrospectives from pension recalculations
“From pension recalculations to various groups, EFKA, already in the last month, retroactively gives to thousands of pensioners. For example, two weeks ago he gave 15 million to 1,100 pensioners of ISAP and 30 million to 6,500 pensioners of Olympiaki. At the end of the month they will also be retroactively given to bank employees as well as 1,200 pensioners who worked in former NPDDs».
For the 6-day work
“This issue is presented one-sidedly and persuasively. The 6-day work has been legislated since 2005 and applies exclusively to specific economic activities of continuous operation (e.g. refineries). The change that was made, and very correctly made, is to inform the Ministry through the ERGANI II system about whether the employee is paid on his Saturdays with a salary of 40% above as stipulated by the legislation. And if it is not paid, SEPE should come and oblige the employer to pay the employee his earnings together with a fine for this violation».
