| 
Greek pages
|  | The International Environment and the Role Of O.A.E.D. in Society From the beginning of the eighties the Unemployment has become one of the most oppressing problems for the most Member-States of the European Union. This problem becomes worse due to structural changes, technological development and the economical crisis. Benefits resulting from development of technology application, such as economic growth, rise of living standards, or new opportunities, intensify the problems of those who are deprived. At the dawn of the millennium the struggle against unemployment and specifically against long-term unemployment and this of the young and unskilled ones, has continuously consisted a priority target for the European Union. In this context, E.U. has decided to face the problem through the implementation of common actions undertaken by Member States rather than national-level measures. According to these policies, the measures that are applied are of preventative and active character as well. So in the topic of the "White Book" which is called "Development, Competitiveness and Employment" it is emphasised that Vocational Training of the manpower will undoubtfully contribute not only in the restoration of a high level of employment, but also in the strengthening of the economic activity and the improvement of the competitiveness. The complete strategy for Employment, which was approved by the European Council in Essen (December 1994) is implemented and led by the Multinational Programmes for employment of the State Members. It concerns the: - promotion of the investment in Vocational Training,
- development emphasised on the Employment,
- reduction in the non-wage Labour Cost,
- improvement of the efficiency of the policy for the Labour Market,
- enforcement of supporting measures for social groups on which the unemployment has the worst consequences.(Social Exclusion).
The above-mentioned Summit was followed by the Summits in Madrid (December 1995) where the results were assessed by the Committee of Economic and Social Affairs and then in Florence (June 1999) and Amsterdam (June1997). In the latter, the promotion of the human centred attitude of the E.U. has been pursued as well as the approach with the European citizen. The high level of employment and social welfare and protection will be achieved by close co-operation and co-ordination of the actions of the national policies of the Member States, which will be resumed by the Counselling Committee for the Employment. The development and the protection of human resources and social rights have also been planned and will be put in action. After the Summit in Luxembourg (1998) the procedure aimed at the enhancement of the employment, which will be achieved by: - the adjustment of the Employment Services for the prevention of unemployment through Vocational training and "life long learning",
- the strengthening of business spirit, through the facilitation of establishment (start-up) and operation of new enterprises,
- Adaptability, through the organisation of employment (employment relations and production system) of employment and the development of human resources.(modernisation of professional skills),
- creation of equal opportunities for men and women and as well as for disabled or handicapped people.
The final goal of the coordination of the above-mentioned policies is an essential increase of the employment rate in Europe. The Greek National Plan for Employment is oriented towards the achievement of this target. During the Lisbon Summit held in year 2000, the leaders of 15 Member-States, decided to - promote a knowledge based economy through INTERNET,
- enhance employment through growth of economy,
- protect and support low income groups of population.
Therefore, it takes care for the creation of the conditions, which are necessary for Employment and its actions aim at creating all the necessary presuppositions for immediate matching of Supply of Labour to Demand, according to the Economic Development Programme of the Country. The task of OAED is completed by a) the acquisition or/and improvement of the vocational skills of the manpower through training and its support with employment programmes, so that it will correspond to the continuously changing conditions of the Labour Market and b) the Social Security Benefits and Allowances granted to the social groups that have already been mentioned. The Organisation contributes with the best way possible, to the protection of the citizen's right for employment and social welfare given by the Constitution, contributing to the co-existence of development and social cohesion by taking care for finding the proper work placement for each unemployed person and by delivering Social Security Services to the various groups of population. |