After two days of strikes in public sector Greeks rushed to state banks and unemployment offices. Payday! Where pensions and unemployment allowance are paid on certain days of the month. Older neighbors reported that they had to wait 2-3 hours to get their pensions, in the average 600 EUR. But worst was the experience the jobless had today. The long queues in front of OAED offices , the State Employment Agency, were striking. In some areas, the queues extended to several blocks. People stood there for hours. Stood in line for 460 EURO. A humiliating ‘nothing’ to cover maybe one-third of a household’s monthly needs. Only for 12 months – even if they have paid their contributins for 20 or 30 years…
The queues are expected to grow parallel to the galloping unemployment. Currently at 16.5%, that is almost 800,000 people. Unofficially it is estimated at 20% as the official data refer only to employees and do not include self-employees. Yes, all those they have closed down their shops you see around in every Greek city.
There is still something positive to see here. That the state still has money to pay its obligations. Then contrary to some international media disinformation, employees do pay their social contributions, month in, month out. It’s only the mismanagement by the Social Funds that forces the state budget to pour the money…
see more pictures Here
