Gov't measure to help young scientists is proving a trap

Last year's announcement by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras about reduced social security contributions by young scientists for their first five years at work is proving a trap: After the expiry of the five years they will have to pay retroactively and with interest all the contributions they did not pay in the first five-year period of their career, according to a circular issued on Tuesday by the Labor and Social Security Ministry.

This is not the only example of revealed extra burden on workers, as the various circulars on social security contributions according to the law introduced by former labor minister Giorgos Katrougalos are coming thick and fast. They unveil the size of contribution hikes and the traps for various categories of workers.

Regarding the burden on freelance workers and the self-employed, Tuesday's circular introduces a flat rate of contributions...