Would you like to explain how people in Greece live on under 400 Euros?

Question

Is it nice to have knowledge, diplomas, prestige in your fields of studies, recognition abroad, and then you fight for your daily bread and are kicked around by bosses and society? At this time and age, when we have abundance, why people should suffer?

Yes, for those who do not know this is per Month!

For the people who do not know and are out of touch with reality, do not watch news and are above it all since they make good money: Look around. Ask, listen and see what the net wages are. Ask young people, older people, women, men, etc. IT IS TRUE and "I know" does not know obviously. Or people are playing ostriches! And I do not know where CIA got this. Anyhow, officially minimum wage is ~600 Euros/month= ~400 Euros. It is in the News all the time. Where have you been? Unofficially you know you have to have connections, at least three diplomas, even "personally" try you out, etc in order to get job. Do not remind me. Ah, this of course happens all over the world now days. Because employers want Slaves. Ridiculous, as this is happening all over the world, and also shameful not to pay for Education and decent pensions. And we considered ourselves advanced? Ts, ts such little humans we are. No education=No evolvement.

I mean Nert, clear is ~Euros 400. After deductions.

Ok correction: Net

Greek Barbie, what page should we look for in the CIA link?

Answer 1

That's a nice and really caring nad thoughtful question. It's true that many people in Greece, tending to be the majority, live nowdays under the limits of poverty. Actually, some 600 euros are just the basic salary for beginers, and taking into consideration that essential expenses (bills, rent, food) exceed obviously this amount, these people are convicted to never get eliberated from their family, where at least they contrubute part of their "income" and there remains a small amount for their personal needs for entertainment (a cheap one).
We must also think of the fact that Banks are beyond control by any authority, and they take advantage of the people, who get loans to cover their essential needs and afterwards they have to be "prisoners" of their debts for the rest of their lives.
My opinion is that this is not a european country, but a third world one, as to its financial status.

Answer 2

You know, a couple of years ago, I would have said it would be pretty easy to live on 400 Euros a month in Greece.

However, the concept that Greece is a cheap country is definately wrong. It IS cheap if you are visiting from other countries, such as the UK. However, when you live and work in Greece, you will soon find that it is not cheap as you might have thought.

Over the past few years, the price of literally everything has increased. I remember when the Euro became the national currency. Everything nearly doubled in price overnight, but because the Greeks were not able to place value on the Euro when compared to the drachma, it took a while to realise that life in Greece suddenly became very expensive.

The prices have continued to increase little by little over the recent years, and its only when you step back and work out the prices that you were paying for the same thing a few years ago do you realise that things are not cheap anymore.

Sadly, the only thing in Greece that hasn't increased much over the years are wages, and benifits paid out. While the majority of Greeks suffer, there are a handful who are earning more than ever.

And people wonder why there is such a strong "black economy" over here !!

Answer 3

Unfortunately this is true! And those are still lucky! I have seen people with 3 kids living on 600 a month. I saw a retired old man who when nobody would look, would go to the trash cans during siesta time, hoping to find something.
I especially feel sorry for all the fishermen, going out throwing 2 nets and the next morning seeing that only 15 fish were caught! Now how are you supposed to live like that? It is the life of a dog and that this is happening in an EU country is really shocking! Yes, rent is cheaper, and you can find a place for 150 Euros a month but all the rest is just as expensive as in another country. Take olive oil for example, a daily ingredient in Greek cooking, it is more expensive in Greece than in some other EU countries! I really hope for the Greek people that things will change soon because you can't go on living a life like this where you have to depend on family or friends to survive.

Answer 4

You're so right. Although minimum wage is officially 600, there are people that get less than that. There are super markets, AB Basilopoulos being one of them, that only hire people part time. That means their employers get 400 to 500 per month.
Try paying rent, food, and supporting a family on that money.
It's horrible. Something needs to be done.
What happened to our nation? We used to be rebels. Now we just accept this BS, because we're all scared. It makes me so angry.

But to answer your question, about how people live on so little, some people have inherited houses and property, some work three jobs, both wives and husbands work while grandparents raise children, some take loan after loan, and credit card after credit card, and some just plain suffer!

I do love my country, but this just makes me so mad.

Answer 5

I dont know how the economy is doing but Greek households are having difficulties to cope with rising prices and low income!!! If you consider that internet users in Greece are in the upper 25% considering income and education (whats wrong with education?? the only thing is that education just not stop with the degree, you must always learn and study) you understand how badly the rest 75% is doing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately to make 200 € you have to work 5-10 days and you can lose 20,000€ in a flash!!!

Answer 6

First of all, I am very puzzled as to why a person who has "knowledge, diplomas, [academic] prestige" and "recognition abroad" would even consider a low-paying job in Greece. Surely, in an age of globalization, such a person could easily find employment abroad.

I am also puzzled by the logic behind this question. It is true that the minimum salary in Greece is around 8,000 p.a. gross (which is *not* 400E pm net). However, the very concept of a "minimum" wage means that the majority of the workforce earns more than that, as their career progresses. I'm not arguing that salaries are high in Greece (although I have heard of cleaning ladies in a certain airline earning more than a university lecturer in the UK). However, it is poor form to isolate the least qualified extreme of the workforce and present their plight as a typical case.

Lastly, and entirely as an aside, it is my conviction that many young Greeks have an overly unwarranted opinion regarding their qualifications. Having a 10-year old certificate in English (even a "Proficiency"), does not mean that one can contribute effectively in a multi-national company. In my experience, degrees from many Greek universities are (sadly) no longer a guarantee that a candidate can spell or do sums. It is therefore no surprise that many private companies prefer to let employees prove themselves in the workfield before giving out real money.

Edit - To some answerers below:
Being educated is laudable. However, there seems to be some confusion between the concept of being well-educated and being well-qualified for a particular job. Having a BA in, say, Ancient Greek literature or agricultural management might mean that one is educated - but it is not a relevant work qualification for a secretarial post or for data processing. Many Greeks apparently feel that their employer is morally obliged to reward them for their studies, irrespective of whether their qualifications correspond to the employer's needs. I'm afraid that this is patently absurd.

Answer 7

Because when the time for the elections come most Greeks vote for a visma to make them employee in a public organization.
There are laws regarding work but what is happening in the last 10 years is outraging.
After the elections when ministers call private industries a "Public Treasure" how do we expect that working laws can be enforced to these industries? Or that working laws can be made not to be bent?
Just look what happens with the public insurance. They expect workers to pay the bill and NOT employers. They expect consumers to pay the expensive electricity and noone talks about what the industries pay for electricity and what they owe.

Answer 8

GDP per capita isn't what the average person earns. It is the gross income of the whole country divided by population, and includes the income of companies.

Modern age economies are always taking away from the individual and giving it to the capital.

Answer 9

Hi
I understand you - unfortunately a person has to live/work in Greece to believe the wages are this low - so as most of the answerers are Greeks born/living elsewhere they tend not to belive their beloved Greece is VERY expensive and wages are INCREDIBLY low!
Believe us the asker is right!
My M.I.L gets a stupid tiny pension from her husband who died years back - when she needs anything she asks us (the ones that earn the most (or so she thinks).
I think you'll find that the net actually turns out at 600 (that's what our accountant says) 400/600 it's still pittance!

Greece is a very expensive country - inflation is one of the highest. I went to UK in OCT and everything clothes/food/shoes etc were much cheaper but the wages are much higher than Greece.
Brits don't have to pay out for frontistiros or private lessons! I pay 200euro a month for my daughter who's eight for a private teacher to sit and help her with her homework as we are both working and frontistirio. I have to really restrain myself from storming up to the school to scream at her teacher 'If you did your *&^%$ing job right I wouldn't have to pay for a teacher at home!'
People who work in the public sector (civil servants) believe they have a secure job until it comes to pay day - I know civil servants that haven't been paid for 6 months!
People survive by getting themselves further and further into debt - loans/credit cards/ borrowing. A massive cement company asked my husband to lend them a cheque (Greeks pass cheques [checks] round like candy) .....that was 3 yrs ago and the cheque was worth 40,000 euro! My husband can't get the money back as we have no official papers - so while their children are studying at university - we are struggling (hence I went to back to work). That's how people survive borrowing/ loans/ etc

There are unions - but they rarely fight for their workers - I know the union for construction workers is worth it's weight in dog poo! They even put hubby's name forward to be president! Maybe he can teach them how to lose 40.000 euro in one afternoon!

Just to add - am I the only person that notices that on our electric bill we pay for all the ERT channels - which means these channels should be ad free - they are now full of adverts - I keep complaining to hubby - who told me to go complain elsewhere - don't Greeks understand this or what?

Answer 10

from my own experience.....visiting Athens 3 times....400 euros r very little money. Greece is not cheap, it is cheaper than other european countries but not that cheap.