The doubling of the unemployment benefit for seafarers from 300 to 600 euros, as well as the significant expansion of the beneficiaries, is being promoted by the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy in cooperation with the Ministry of National Economy and Finance and following an actuarial study. The measure concerns hundreds of seafarers, who in previous years received lower support compared to the general unemployment benefit regime.
More specifically, by order of the Minister of Shipping, Vasilis Kikilias, the procedures for implementing the benefit increase are being activated immediately, while the securing of the relevant funding from the economic staff and the inclusion of the measure in the multi-year planning of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance have already preceded. At the same time, the substantial expansion of the categories eligible for the benefit is proceeding, so that more seafarers, who until now were excluded, can be included. In this way, a long-standing demand of the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) for the formation of fair support terms for the seafaring family is satisfied.
The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, stated:
“As I had committed to in the last meeting I had with the Secretary General of the PNO, Em. Tsikalakis, we are rectifying an injustice that burdened our seafarers for many years and substantially strengthens their social protection. I would like to thank the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, and the Deputy Minister of Finance, Thanos Petralias, for the cooperation that allowed the inclusion of the measure in the multi-year planning of the economic staff. We are proceeding with the doubling of the benefit and the very significant expansion of the beneficiaries, in a way that effectively supports the sector and tangibly recognizes the contribution of our seafarers to the national economy”.
