By S. Papapetros
A report by Greece’s relevant labor ministry towards an experts’ committee reveals a dramatic shrinkage of wage-earners’ incomes between the 2010-2015 period due to the recession, an explosion in unemployment, an increase in more flexible forms of employment (part-time, seasonal) and especially wage cuts.
The figures, ominously, depict a new caste of “working poor” in the country, with wages in this category often less than the monthly unemployment benefit of 360 euros, which is allocated for roughly one year.
According to the report, 126,956 wage-earners are remunerated with less than 100 euros in gross pay per month.
Officially, just more than 343,000 people earn between 100 and 400 euros in gross pay.
As expected, the numbers deal with part-time staff, or wage-earners employed in a two- to three-day work week.
Based on figures announced by the biggest social security fund, IKA, the average monthly part-time salary hovers between 400 and 420 euros.
All total, and based on official figures, 432,033 people earn up to 510 euros per month gross take-off pay.
Of course, the report does not delve into the scope and frequency of “off-the-books” payments and bonuses, with many employers paying only the basic wage scale and then supplementing employees' wages with tax-free cash. Additionally, several categories of employees, particularly in service sectors, such as waitresses/waiters, delivery couriers etc., earn a significant chunk of their monthly income through gratuities.
