Greece’s plan against the “demographic disaster”: Vouchers, benefits for parents…
Greece has unveiled new measures to boost birth rates, from vouchers and childcare benefits to tax breaks for new parents, although experts question their effectiveness.
Greece has one of the lowest fertility rates in Europe, a very bad demographic situation caused by a decades-long economic crisis, emigration and changed attitudes among young people, Reuters reported.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called it a national threat and a “ticking time bomb” for pensions.
Greece currently spends around €1 billion a year on childcare measures. In addition, it recorded the lowest number of births in history in 2022.
The measures put forward by the Ministries of Family, Interior, Finance and Health include tax breaks for new parents, vouchers for day care, an increase in the minimum wage from 2025, an increase in pensions and a reduction in social contributions.
But demographic experts and even government officials admit that Greece has a long way to go.
“It goes without saying that the demographic problem cannot simply be solved with benefits and financial incentives,” Deputy Finance Minister Tanos Petralijas told reporters.
Petralijas said that solving the problem also requires improving the education and health systems, increasing income and better conditions for a balance between work and private life.
Falling birth rates are a problem for governments across Europe, where countries including France, Italy, Norway and Spain have spent billions of euros on childcare measures, but to little effect.
Source: Politics, Tanjug
Photo: Pixabay
Source: bizlife.rs
