This involves the doubling of the unemployment benefit for seafarers from 300 to 600 euros, as well as the significant expansion of the beneficiaries.
The decision was made following an actuarial study and 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 activated immediately, while the securing of the relevant funding from the financial staff has already preceded, as well as the inclusion of the measure in the multi-year planning of the Ministry of Finance.
Simultaneously, the substantial expansion of the categories eligible for the benefit is progressing, so that more seafarers, who until now were left out, 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.
This is an issue that was of intense concern to the shipping community, and which is now being satisfied.
As Mr. Kikilias characteristically emphasized in his statements to “N”: “For many years, the shipping sector was asking for a fairer and more balanced approach to the issue of supporting those who are temporarily out of work.
In my last meeting with the general secretary of the PNO, Em. Tsikalakis, I had committed that the Ministry of Shipping would provide a specific solution.
Today we are implementing this commitment with a substantive intervention that truly strengthens the people of the sea.
We are proceeding with the near doubling of the unemployment benefit and a very significant expansion of the beneficiaries, so that the protection framework responds to the real needs of the sector for all those who work in shipping and face periods without assignments, either due to seasonality or due to market conditions.
This intervention corrects injustices of the past and creates more stable conditions for all seafarers.”
In fact, as he explains: “For such a change to be implemented, serious technical preparation and full documentation were required.
An actuarial study was carried out and the appropriate financial framework was formed, so that the decision is not occasional, but part of a long-term plan.
I want to thank the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, and the Deputy Minister, Thanos Petralias, for their cooperation and for the official inclusion of the measure in the multi-year planning of the Ministry of Finance.”
“For us at the Ministry of Shipping,” the Minister concludes, “supporting the people who serve shipping is not theory, but action and responsibility.
Today’s initiative strengthens the security of an entire professional sector and clearly recognizes the contribution of seafarers to the economy and the cohesion of the country.
We will continue with the same dedication to form a framework that responds to their real needs and honors their labor and the value of their work.”
