A/HRC/25/50/Add.1 50. The Independent Expert commends the Government for the measures it has taken to expand employment and training programmes. These include the youth internship and employment voucher programme, which supports six-month vocational training and internships for 45,000 beneficiaries.54 He considers it unlikely, however, that these measures can, against the backdrop of the deep reforms to the labour market, provide a sustainable solution to the country’s profound youth unemployment problem or provide opportunities for decent work in line with international standards. B. Social security 51. Significant spending cuts under the adjustment programme have affected a range of benefits, including unemployment benefits, pensions and family benefits.55 To compound the problem, there are significant delays in issuing pension decisions, paying pensions and benefits and interpretative problems in the implementation of new pension legislation.56 52. Owing to the rise in long-term unemployment, only a fraction of all registered unemployed persons receive benefits (27 per cent as at February 2013). Moreover, unemployment benefits expire after 12 months, resulting in the loss of public health insurance cover. Many young people are not eligible for support because they have never had a job and have not paid the required national insurance contributions. 53. The Independent Expert notes that a modified assistance scheme to be introduced as of 1 January 2014 will expand unemployment support to all long-term unemployed persons below retirement age. Those with a family income below €10,000 will be entitled to monthly assistance of €200 per month. Nevertheless, he is of the view that this may be insufficient to protect the individuals concerned and their dependants from falling into poverty. It should be noted that the number of people living in jobless households increased from around 600,000 in 2009 to about 1.48 million during the first quarter of 2013, while the number of children living in such households grew even faster from 93,375 in 2009 to 277,149 in the first quarter of 2013.57 54. Consecutive cuts have reduced pensions by up to 60 per cent (for higher pensions) and between 25 and 30 per cent for lower ones. The total monthly pension income in excess of €1,000 has been reduced by 5 to 15 per cent, while Christmas, Easter and summer bonuses for pensioners have been abolished. These wholesale pension cuts have pushed a large proportion of the population into poverty. 55. The Independent Expert shares the view of the European Committee of Social Rights that the “cumulative effect” of the various laws introduced as “austerity measures” in Greece since May 2010, restricting and reducing both public and private pension benefits, constituted a violation of the right to social security enshrined in article 12(3) of 54 55 56 57 See Country Report No. 13/241(see footnote 32), p. 83. Social welfare expenditure in Greece is relatively low when compared with other European countries. See OECD, Greece: Reform of Social Welfare Programmes, 2013 (available from www.oecdilibrary.org/governance/greece-social-welfare-programmes_9789264196490-en), p. 26. See Greek Ombudsman, Annual Report 2011 (see footnote 44), p. 19; Annual Report 2012, pp. 38-39. It should be noted that law 4151/2013 which established advance payments of pensions is intended to speed up access to pension benefits. Hellenic Statistical Authority, Living Conditions in Greece, 6 September 2013 (available from www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/BUCKET/General/LivingConditionsInGreece_0913.pdf), pp. 38-39.. 15