The announcement by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy regarding the doubling of the unemployment benefit for seafarers has elicited mixed reactions.
More specifically, the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, in cooperation with the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, following an actuarial study, is promoting the doubling of the unemployment benefit for seafarers from 300 to 600 euros, as well as a significant expansion of the beneficiaries.
According to the ministry, this measure concerns hundreds of seafarers who, in previous years, received lower support compared to the general unemployment benefit regime.
Therefore, 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.
Simultaneously, the substantial expansion of the categories eligible for the benefit is progressing, 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.
Reactions to the doubling of the unemployment benefit for seafarers
The Greek shipping community views this increase positively, reasoning that it is an increase, and any increase is welcome.
Nevertheless, there are many voices saying that this measure is a measure of showmanship, since seafarers in Greece are asking for more substantial measures to lighten the deductions they so unjustly undergo.
I do not want to analyze how special and difficult the profession of a seafarer is or how much they contribute to the country’s economy with the hot money from abroad they bring to local communities. We have mentioned it dozens of times. Brave decisions need to be taken for the substantial support of seafarers.
Proposals for substantial relief for seafarers
The government should consider whether it wants Greek seafarers on ocean-going vessels. If it does and believes that the economy should also be based on this very important sector, then it must take immediate measures to retain the existing seafarers and attract even more young people to the profession.
1. After the seafarer’s dismissal, from which the payment of the unemployment benefit should begin immediately. The seafarer in the modern era ships out for an average of 6 months per year. Since he works 6 months a year, for the remaining months when he is ashore, he should receive the unemployment benefit. Why should everyone receive it but not the seafarer?
2. Immediate abolition of taxation. The seafarer works thousands of miles away from Greece, in the middle of the sea, under difficult, dangerous, and special conditions.
3. Allowances for the children of seafarers, as are given to other professions.
4. Increase of seafarers’ pensions. It is inconceivable for a Captain A and a Chief Engineer A with 15-20 years of sea service to receive a pension of less than 2200-2500 €.
5. Privileges like those that existed in the past. It is unthinkable for an active seafarer to pay a full fare on coastal shipping vessels. They and their families should pay half fare.
Obviously, the upgrading of the seafaring profession also involves the upgrading of training, but that is another large topic that we have also mentioned many times.
So, when there is a minister and a government that truly want to promote the seafaring profession and provide serious incentives, they must start with substantial measures that will give real value to the Greek seafarer.
