Unemployment

I lost my job. What can I do?

If you are unemployed you may contact the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) through which you may be insured as unemployed, receive an unemployment benefit for a certain period of time, participate in subsidized vocational training programs and get useful advice on finding a job (employment counselling services).

Why should I register at OAED? What does it offer?

The operation of OAED is based on the following pillars:

promotion to employment
unemployment insurance
social protection of maternity and family
vocational education and training

OAED provides insurance coverage for a limited period of time to the registered unemployed individuals depending on their working and unemployment time. What is more, OAED grants the unemployment benefit for a certain period of time to individuals who lost their job because their employment contract had expired or been terminated by the employer (dismissal). Finally, the Organization provides other benefits as well (in services and money) such as the family allowance, maternity allowance or the Day Nurseries of OAED (for the working mothers who are entitled to enroll their children of the (now abolished) Workers’ Fund Organization).

OAED also provides Employment Counselling Services, in which the interested parties may get advice on accessing the labour market (see the chapter “Employment Counselling Services” below).

The Organization has implemented the institution of Apprenticeship in 51 Vocational Education Schools (Apprenticeship Schools – EPAS) for the vocational training of the unemployed students, in which they are trained in various specialties and are employed as trainees for a limited period of time in related enterprises by receiving a subsidy amount and insurance coverage by OAED.

The employment promotion policies include the reduction of labour costs for enterprises, by subsidizing salaries and social security contributions of employees, in the event the enterprises hire someone registered at OAED that belongs to the population groups most severely affected by unemployment as well as vulnerable population groups..

You may find more information about the Manpower Employment Organization on the official website www.oaed.gr.

You may find information about the Employment Counselling programs in all branches of the Organization (the cooperation with an employment counsellor is necessary), as well as in:

OAED – Model Vocational Guidance Centre

pkep@oaed.gr

OAED – Vocational Guidance Directorate (Α1)

a1@oaed.gr

OAED - Directorate for the Coordination and Development of the Employment Service Network

symvouleftiki@oaed.gr

What is the procedure in order to register at OAED?

In order to register at OAED and receive the Unemployment Card you need to submit the following supporting documents to the Organization’s office of you region.

A valid passport or identity card
A residence permit or work permit (for third-country nationals)
The applicant’s most recent Income Tax Notice of Assessment or, failing this, a copy of an already submitted income tax return (Ε1). The unemployed individuals that appear as dependents (such as children) need their parents’ latest submitted income tax return (Ε1).
An electricity, water or fixed telephone bill, or a copy of a house rental contract that has been submitted to the relevant Public Financial Service (that proves where you live).
An official document indicating the applicant’s Social Security Number (ΑΜΚΑ) (e.g. issued by KEP or ΑΜΚΑ offices).

Note for freelance professionals: In the event that you were a self-employed worker, you need to submit the business activity cessation decision issued by the Public Financial Service and OAEE

The PES (ΚΠΑ2) reserves the right to request any document that deems to be necessary for the unemployment determination.

How do I renew my OAED card?

The unemployment card must be renewed every three months. You can renew it at any branch of OAED by presenting your passport and residence or work permit. For your convenience and avoidance of overcrowding in the Organization’s office, it is recommended to use of the online unemployment card renewal service.

In order to use for the first time the online services of OAED, you should previously proceed with an online Registration in the System. You may get the necessary information from the local branch and follow the Instructions on the web address http://eservices.oaed.gr:7777/pls/apex/f?p=110

I do not have a stable job because I work as a seasonal worker. Do I qualify for an allowance?

Yes,if you are insured with IKA and practice one of the following professions.
Beneficiaries of the special seasonal allowance are the individuals who work in Greece, are insured with ΙΚΑ – ΕΤΑΜ and practice one of the following professions:

construction worker,
stone cutter,
tiler,
brick maker,
potter,
forest worker,
resin collector,
tobacco worker,
musician, member of the relevant professional association,
shoemaking worker,
salaried worker in shipyard areas,
excavating, elevating, road construction, drilling machine operator
actor,
cinema and television technician,
film projector operator and assistant operator
cinema and theater checker and cashier,
salaried worker in the tourism and catering industry and
emery worker.

Conditions for the special seasonal allowance

Ι Construction workers

They must have completed exclusively in the construction sector 95 to 210 days of work within the previous year.
They must be neither contractors nor subcontractors, and they must not employ more than three salaried workers.
They must exclusively practice the profession of their sector.
Beneficiaries who participate in OAED training programs and receive the educational benefit cannot receive this allowance. ¹³

¹³:par. 5a, article 37 L. 1836/89

ΙΙ Other categories (excluding construction workers)

Completion of 50 to 210 days of insurance in the calendar year preceding the payment is required.
For the forest workers – resin collectors and emery workers of Naxos 50 to 240 days of insurance are required.
The salaried workers in the tourism and catering industry must have completed at least 75 and no more than 50 days of work during the period from 1 October to 31 December of the previous calendar year of payment..
For the excavating, elevating, road construction and other machine operators 70 to 210 days of insurance are required.
The days of work that they may have completed in other professional sectors in the calendar year preceding the payment must not be more than those that have been completed in their professional sector.
The total days of work completed in the calendar year preceding the year of payment must not exceed 240.
In the event that the payment period of the special seasonal allowance coincides with the payment period of the unemployment benefit (OAED), then the special seasonal allowance is offset with the amount of regular unemployment .
Beneficiaries who participate in OAED training programs and receive the educational benefit cannot receive this allowance. ( par. 5a, article 37 L. 1836/89)

Amount of the allowance

The amount of the special seasonal allowance for the construction workers equals 70% of 35 times the current daily wage of the unskilled worker.
The amount of the special seasonal allowance for the emery workers equals 70% of 50 times the current daily wage of the unskilled worker.
The amount of the special seasonal allowance for the forest workers – resin collectors, tobacco workers, potters – ceramists - stone cutters and salaried workers in shipyard areas equals 70% of 35 times the current daily wage of the unskilled worker.
The amount of the special seasonal allowance for the musicians, singers, actors, shoemaking workers, film projector operators and assistant operators, theater-cinema checkers, cinema-theater cashiers, cinema & television technicians, theater-cinema ushers, excavating, elevating, road construction machine operators and salaried workers in the tourism and catering industry equals 70% of 25 times the current daily wage of the unskilled worker.

Supporting documents

Electronic Application – Solemn Declaration in which the interested parties shall declare ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS that they:
The musicians need a certification from their professional association.
The operators of elevating and other machines need to have the relevant machine operator’s license.
You need to have an account at the National Bank of Greece and submit a copy of your bankbook in which you appear as the first beneficiary. The payment of the allowance to the beneficiaries is made directly to the bank account they have indicated in the Electronic Application – Solemn Declaration. For this reason you must be very careful and provide accurate information (IBAN, TRN, Social Security Number (ΑΜΚΑ), etc.)

For the payment of the special seasonal allowance, the following documents are searched for by the department where you submit your application:

For third-country nationals, the residence permit data are obtained by the Ministry of Interior.
The Income Tax Notice of Assessment is obtained by the General Secretariat for Information Systems (G.S.I.S).
The insurance data are crosschecked in the electronic system of ΙΚΑ - ΕΤΑΜ.

Payment period of the special seasonal allowance

The special seasonal allowance is paid each year from 10/9 – 30/11.

I am looking for a job based on what is in demand, but also based on my interests and skills. Is there a specific way to search?

Yes!
The employment counselling programs were launched in Greece in recent years and help people looking for a job meet the increased labour market requirements. They provide individualized support and information on the most effective techniques for finding a job, assistance in writing your resume and cover letter, professional help in your job search and preparation for the interview.

Employment counselling services are offered by OAED (see above), the Labour Institute of the General Confederation of Greek Workers (INE GSEE) ¹⁴, by many IEK, KEK and KEE (see also the chapter on education) and some NGOs.

➢ Advice! Always be careful with:

ads looking for employees based on sex, race, age, religion, physical ability, sexual orientation or physical appearance because they constitute discrimination.

ads with unclear content and unclear employer’s information.

¹⁴:For young people (from 16-30 years old) looking for a job, the Specialized Employment Promotion Centres (EKPA) of INE GSEE operate in the three largest cities of Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras) and provide services via the internet, on the website: www.ekpaine.gr

Useful addresses

You may find useful addresses and contact details of bodies apart from OAED offering employment counselling services in the following indicative list: