Articles - IKA
The Greek Social Insurance Organisation (IKA)
The main social insurance body for workers in Greece is the Greek Social Organisation known as IKA. All employees in Greece, whether permanent or temporary, are supposed to have IKA payments made on their behalf (except for reps or other workers working for foreign companies as they are usually paid in their own country.) Both employers and employees are obliged to make contributions although usually the onus is on the employer to offer the prospective employee a salary ‘plus IKA’. The employer and his accountant will usually take care of the paperwork involved which you will be asked to sign when necessary.
Among the benefits of IKA are medical care, including subsidized prescriptions, special treatments and hospitalization costs, dental care, maternity leave and allowances, illness and accident allowances, a one time life insurance payment to spouse of covered individuals, and a pension based on number of working days and salary.
You are entitled to a health book when you have 50 stamps (which are the equivalent to 2 month’s work). Once you have a health book you are entitled to visit any of the doctors at the main IKA building in town for free. There are a number of different specialized doctors there and you can book an appointment either by calling in or by phoning 184. If there is no doctor at IKA for your particular ailment then you can visit a doctor at the local hospital where you will be charged a small fee of 3 Euros. (Please note however if you go in the afternoon/evening the charge is around 30 Euros.)
If you are prescribed medication by a doctor at IKA he/she will write it in your health book and you will only be charged a proportion of the cost (usually 25%) at the chemist. If you have been given a prescription from the hospital or a private doctor you will have to reclaim the money by asking for a ‘timologeeo’ (an official receipt) from the chemist and then take it to the IKA building in order to fill out the necessary paperwork. You usually get the money about 10 days later.
If you are planning to live in Zakynthos permanently then one of the major advantages of paying IKA contributions is the fact that after the second season of payment you will be entitled to unemployment benefit during the winter months. In order to be entitled to this benefit you need to have paid at least 120 stamps in the first season of employment and at least 101 in the second year (whether working full time or part time). Your application then needs to be made to O.A.E.D (the Greek Manpower Employment Organization) at the end of the second season within 60 days of receiving your signing off papers from your employer. You will receive unemployment benefit for 5 or 6 months depending on the number of stamps you have paid. (120 and 101 stamps will entitle you to 5 months benefit and 150 and 150 will entitle you to the full 6 months benefit.)
There is a government office in Zakynthos (S.E.P.E) which offers help and advice to all employees regarding their rights with matters such as salary, overtime, days off, national insurance, unfair dismissal, and health and safety in the work place.
If you need any advice regarding your employment then you will find the office opposite the National Bank of Greece in Zakynthos town.
It is open Monday - Friday 09.00 - 13.00.
The sign on the door says ÔÌÇÌÁ ÊÏÉÍÙÍÉÊÇÓ ÅÐÉÈÅÙÑÇÓÇÓ. The telephone number is 26950 29301 and the fax is 26950 29303
and you should ask for Mr Dionysios Grekas or Mr Evagelos Theodoras.
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