Greek journalists and media workers who have lost their jobs could receive 8.7 million euros (9.9 million dollars) from the European Union to help find new jobs, the bloc’s executive proposed on Tuesday.
“Greek workers are going through a difficult period and we must use all the tools we have at our disposal to provide assistance,” said EU Employment Commissioner Marianne Thyssen.
The money, being offered from the EU’s globalization adjustment fund in response to a Greek request, would benefit 1,633 media sector workers in and around Athens.
They all lost their jobs in programming, broadcasting and publishing companies due to the global economic crisis, which has deeply affected Greece, the commission said in a statement, adding that the media industry has been particularly badly hit.
The funding, which still requires the approval of the European Parliament and member states, will help to provide workers with career guidance, training, business start-up funding and various allowances.
Unemployment in Attica, the region that encompasses Athens, stood at 28 per cent at the start of last year, according to commission figures. Over 70 per cent of jobless people have been out of work for more than 12 months.
“The lay-offs in publishing enterprises have overburdened a region which has already been hard hit by the negative consequences of the crisis,” the EU’s executive said.
GNA
