Greece unemployment hits highest rate in European Union
(Najamuddin Ghanghro, Karachi(original from Larkana))
The latest unemployment rate
for Greece has risen to 26.8%, the highest figure recorded in the European Union
(EU).
The official Greek data for October sees Greece overtake Spain as the country
with the highest unemployment rate in Europe.
The Greek economy remains mired in recession and the government is in the
process of imposing significant austerity measures.
Athens is cutting spending to meet the terms of its financial bailouts.
So far, the European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the European
Commission have pledged a total of 240bn euros ($315bn; £196bn) in rescue loans,
of which Greece has received more than two thirds.
The Greek government required the bailouts because it was struggling to meet the
interest payments on its existing debts.
Under the terms of the rescue funds, Greece is having to agree to substantial
spending cuts, such as redundancies and pay freezes in the public sector, and
reduced pensions. This is having a major knock-on impact on the wider Greek
economy.
While Greece's unemployment rate in October was 26.8%, the most recent official
figure for Spain - for the month of November - was 26.6%.
Spain is also in recession, with its government having to cut spending to reduce
its debts.
The BBC's Athens correspondent, Mark Lowen, said: "Greeks blame austerity for
the rise, with the number of jobless more than doubling since the country was
first bailed out in 2010.
"And with more spending cuts this year, many predict the rate will soon hit
30%."