Unemployment Premium Rate Lower, but Still Employee-Heavy
The Unemployment Insurance Fund has voted to move that the premium rate for next year be set at 3 percent, down from 4.2 percent this year. But the unions are not satisfied with the fact that the employees still pay two-thirds of the amount.
The unions, who make up one-third of the supervisory board of the Fund, wanted to the premium to be split equally by employers and employees, but were left in the minority on June 4 as the government and employers voted to retain the current proportions.
Supervisory board chairman Harri Taliga said: "The proposal of the unions to achieve the result desired by the government by establishing an equal rate of 1.5 percent for employers and employees did not receive enough votes in favor."
According to estimates, The three-percent premium would bring in 158.5 million euros in 2013, while unemployment insurance expenses would be 90.9 million euros.
Next year, forecasts put the benefits to be paid out at 46.9 million euros and labor market services at 31.2 million euros (including 3 million euros from the state budget).
The projection is that 12,554 people will receive the benefit in 2013, while 4,645 people will receive layoff benefits and 2,693 will draw insolvency benefits.
Kristopher Rikken