Freelancer

Changes in the way social security contributions are paid as of next year will increase the burden on freelance professionals.

In 2018 freelancers are set to see their incomes shrink further, as 46 percent will have to go toward the payment of contributions and taxes.

The social security law introduced by former minister Giorgos Katrougalos in May 2016 has resulted in 111,212 self-employed professionals closing their invoice books for services rendered (known as "blokakia") up to end-November.

Greeks' declared incomes shrank by over 2.5 billion euros in a year from 2015 to 2016, as the earnings that salary workers, pensioners, freelance professionals and property owners declared in June for the 2016 financial year amounted to 72.5 billion euros, against 75.01 billion euros for the previous year, the processing of this year's tax statements has shown.

The trend of mass migration of Greek firms and freelancers to Bulgaria and Cyprus, where taxes and social security are significantly lower than those of Greece, continues. This is what Kathimerini writes, quoted by expert.bg

The mass migration of Greek businesses and freelance workers continues unabated as they escape the overtaxation and huge social security contributions at home.

Greece's bar associations have appealed to the European Commission to initiate proceedings against the Greek government over pension reforms that they say, coupled with the existing tax burden, have had a binding effect on freelancers' incomes.

At least 741 workers died in the first five months of 2017 in workplace accidents, with at least 146 worker deaths in May alone, according to a report recently released by a non-governmental organization dealing with worker health and safety issues.

The revenues of the new Single Social Security Entity (EFKA) look likely to crumble when the painful measures agreed by the government and the country's creditors are passed.

Fresh demands are about to be made on 1.4 million freelance workers, self-employed professionals and farmers, as according to the new updated bailout agreement, the country's creditors are insisting on an increase in social security contributions.

A two-week extension has been granted to the country's 1.41 million freelance workers, self-employed professionals and farmers for the payment of their March social security contributions, due to errors in the pay notices of previous months.