Unemployment benefits

Subdued by three bailouts, record high unemployment and a maelstrom of taxes, Greeks were in no mood to party on Friday at news of a last-gasp deal pulling them from the brink of a financial abyss. Again.

Turkey's unemployment rate dropped to 11.7 percent in the February-April period, dipping further from a seven-year high at the start of the year but up from 10.1 percent a year earlier, official data showed on June 15. 

Manpower Organization (OAED) figures published on Wednesday showed a reduction in the number of registered unemployed in March by 2.51 percent, or 27,573 people, compared to February, as the early start of the tourism season this year thanks to Easter coming earlier than last year, has given the Greek labor market a boost.

The number of people registered as unemployed at Greece's Manpower Organization (OAED) rose by about 6,000 in February to almost 1.1 million at the end of the month, a dramatic rate which is expected to continue until at least the end of 2017. This trend corresponds with the rise seen in the quarterly jobless rate late last year.

Unemployment is going from bad to worse in Greece as the number of unemployed people registered with the Manpower Organization (OAED) continued to grow in November. This has generated strong concerns since the reduction trend observed in the summer has been reversed.

According to data released by the Hellenic Statistical Services (ELSTAT), 820,000 jobless Greeks are long term unemployed. They make up the 73.8% of the total of unemployed people in Greece, according to the figures reported in newspaper “Ta Nea”, while the report says that 9 out of 10 jobless people are completely in the margins as they are not receiving any kind of financial benefit.

According to a proposal of the European Commission, Bulgarians entitled to unemployment benefits will receive these from Bulgaria for 6 months even if they are looking for work abroad.

The announced reform in the coordination of the social systems among the 28 member-states determines who is responsible for the payment of benefits.

Consumers entitled to a heating oil allowance will have to wait until February before they receive it, the Finance Ministry has said.

Officials have decided to change the eligibility criteria causing delays in benefit distribution.

Unemployment continued to decline in August, announced the National Employment Agency.

At the end of August, there were 261,525 unemployed registered in labour bureaus. Compared to July, there was a decrease of 6,575 persons. On an annual basis, compared to August 2015, the number of unemployed was significantly lower - a decrease of 45,296.

Labor and Social Security Minister Süleyman Soylu has signaled a series of changes in the job market, from flexible working conditions to severance payments, in a press conference with economy reporters on Jan. 28.