Examining the Manpower Organization
Over 75,000 unemployed people benefited from the Manpower Organization’s (OAED) vocational and employment schemes in 2006. And 100,000 jobseekers took part in the Account for Employment and Vocational Training (LAEK), a fund to which both workers and employers contribute. However, studies show that unemployment is still high and a major problem for Greek families. OAED has become a mechanism for churning out job-training subsidies. It provides funding to private vocational institutes but refuses to provide valid data to justify 35 schemes started in the last couple of years. The issue also does not seem to trouble unions, who have placed the organization beyond scrutiny. Now and then they make a few accusations that are quickly forgotten. It is clear that the purpose of OAED is to produce co-funded training schemes and sustain various vocational structures, the General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) and employers included. It is also a vote winner for deputies, ministers and municipal authorities as securing a place on one of the training schemes offers a short-term solution to unemployed youth.
