Government may extend jobless subsidy

The government will likely maintain a 400-euro monthly stipend for jobless individuals who are no longer eligible for unemployment checks, after initially planning to eliminate the aid.

The renewal of the subsidy is expected in February, after the government takes stock of how well the system has worked so far, Labor Ministry sources said Wednesday. This new attitude is a result of pressure from the opposition Socialists.

Under the system, individuals who have been out of a job for a long time are eligible for the six-month subsidy if they are no longer receiving unemployment checks, if they have no other income and if they have no family assistance.