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After cuts and new taxes, the government passes the idea of social economy

12 August 2010 / 12:08:46  GRReporter
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After cutting the public sector wages and raising taxes, levies and fees, acts typical of a conservative government, the socialist PASOK decided to pay attention to the people in the lowest income bracket in the country and prepare legislation for the establishment of the so-called social companies. These companies aim to create jobs and career prospects for socially disadvantaged people. The initial grant for the establishment of these social enterprises will be provided both from the European funds and the national budget. These companies will give priority to disabled persons, people of drug dependence history (in remission), poor, immigrants and long unemployed. They will be founders and members of these social enterprises and must be up to 35 years of age.

These social companies will be based on the principle of non-distribution of profit. The participants (entrepreneurs and employees) will receive for their work salary not more than three times the established minimum wage in the country which to date is € 740 per month after taxes and insurances. If profits exceed the costs of the establishment of this program, the entrepreneur is obliged to invest the surplus in the expansion/improvement of the business or in creating new jobs.  

The draft will be discussed in parliament in late August this year and the budget set for it is € 260 million. The Minister of Employment and Social Security told reporters that the entire project will be funded from operational government program Human Resources Development 2007-2013. In particular, the government set aside € 60 million for supporting the social economy as well as for facilitating the establishment and operation of these social enterprises. Another € 20 million are provided for the development of social enterprises only by young people not older than 26 years and € 130 million will be allocated from the local programs for social integration of disadvantaged groups. The Ministry of Economy, Development and Merchant Marine is also involved in the initiative of social companies. It will grant € 50 million from the Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship fund. The total amount of subsidies is € 260 million.
 
The survey of the Greek online site for public research lifetrends.gr shows that social companies are one of the successful business models of the 21st century. There are at least 55 000 active companies built on the principle of social economy in Britain. This is the conception of the chain of restaurants Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant group, which enable 20 trainees per year to receive free training to become chefs. Training is based on the Pay It Forward principle and according to the founder of the program – the professional chef Jamie Oliver – it offers young people experiencing problems in society to take a breath and a feeling of hope. He believes this is a chance for the young people, a sense of purpose and faith in their capabilities as it opens a whole new world of opportunities.

Tags: EconomyMarketsCompanies
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