Editorial Ta Nea: The pressing need for a social safety net

The minimum wage hike, the second this year, announced yesterday by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a nationally televised statement, is more than welcome.

Undoubtedly, it is a step in the right direction, because in times of crisis the state is obliged to make every possible effort to economically shield those of our fellow citizens who are the most vulnerable.

Supporting the economically weaker classes socially and economically is the duty of every developed state.

The initiative announced yesterday, however, does not suffice.

More measures are needed, as studies indicate that an adjustment of the minimum wage in our country is not enough to avert dire poverty.

It must be combined with other measures, such as energy subsidies and improved healthcare, which will create a social safety net for those hit hardest by inflation.

An effective, comprehensive plan is the only way to prevent the marginalisation of the poor and a return to the period in which populism had prevailed.

In the final analysis, improving the living standards of the poorest classes is essential for the very survival of democracy.