Black Christmas for 1,000 Corfu unemployed seasonal tourism workers who didn΄t receive benefit payments

Approximately 1,000 seasonal workers in tourism and catering on Corfu had a 'Black Christmas', as up to today, the unemployment benefit they are entitled to from DYPA (formerly OAED) has not been paid.

Although the first installment of the unemployment benefit has already been paid to the majority of seasonal workers in tourism and catering, hundreds of beneficiaries in the region remain unpaid, despite timely submission of their documents.

However, understaffing at local DYPA offices and the time-consuming process of cross-referencing information have delayed the payments. According to the President of the Workers Centre and the Union of Corfu Hotel Employees and Workers in Catering-Tourism-Hotels and Related Professions, Stamatis Pellais, the number of seasonally subsidised workers in tourism in the region comes to approximately 15,000. However, he said, there is also a significant portion of workers who do not meet the requirements to be subsidised by DYPA.

"Around 1,000 of the approximately 15,000 subsidised seasonal workers in tourism have not received a single installment of the unemployment benefit," he told Enimerosi. "According to DYPA, the benefit is expected to be paid to everyone by the upcoming Friday, January 19. We face delays in the payment of the unemployment benefit every year because there is a shortage of staff at DYPA. It is a lengthy and cumbersome process for the staff of OAED, and despite the diligent efforts of workers who take on tasks even at home, the problem persists."

Three-month duration

Unemployment benefit for seasonal workers now has a three-month duration, following the changes made during the era of the memoranda. "The amount has been dramatically reduced, as well as the number of months received, now limited to three from the previous 5-6 months," said Mr. Pellais, pointing out that the union is advocating for the reinstatement of the unemployment benefit to its previous state, with an increase in both the monthly amount and its duration, without limitations. The current unemployment benefit is now at 480 Euros.

Applications for re-employment have begun

Meanwhile, the process of rehiring workers in hotels who worked the previous year is underway through the union. The process is expected to be completed by January 31, and approximately 1,000 applications have already been submitted. "The employer is obligated, once their occupancy reaches 80%, to rehire all the workers," said Mr. Pellais. "At 60% occupancy, 50% of the workers, and in any case, by May 25, all workers who exercised their right must be rehired, whatever the occupancy." According to the union, the number of hotel workers in the region comes to approximately 6,000, while it is estimated that there are around 10,000 employed in other tourist professions.

MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI

Photo: Enimerosi / Maria Bazdriyianni