DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF TEBE A1.
The Greek Fund for Craftsmen and Small Traders (TEBE) is a Legal Entity
of Public Law in operation since 1939 and a main insurance institution
for the self-employed.Its current structure consists of Central and
Regional Services in a level of Directorates, Departments and Offices. The
task of TEBE's Central Service is to provide instructions and
directions, to coordinate, supervise and lead the Regional services and
ensure their administrative assistance. Task
of the Regional Directorates of TEBE is to issue decisions on pension
claims and, according to their local competence, on matters of
sickness benefits and payment of allowances. The
Regional Departments and Offices are geographically decentralized units
of the Regional Directorates or Departments, accordingly. Their task is
to exercise their competence on insurance matters and to provide
insurance benefits without delay to the insured persons of their area of
competence, according to the decision for the transfer of competence
from the President of TEBE to the heads of these Departments or Offices.
A2.
TEBE insures 540.578 persons in Greece.
The
Fund's Services execute a number of administrative acts regarding
writing-off from the Fund's Registers, new registration,classification
to a higher insurance category, acknowledgment of insurance time,
admission to voluntary insurance etc. of the insured persons - starting
from first registration with the Fund until cessation of the insurance
relation. A3.
TEBE attends to payment of the insurance contributions by the insured
persons, takes all legal steps provided for collection, provides all
kinds of certification requested for every use and grants all benefits
the insured persons are entitled to. Collection
of contributions is done in two ways: Through
pre-printed invoices mailed bimonthly and computer controlled in the
Attica district and a number of Departments in other cities. In
the rest of the cities and towns of Greece, through contribution stamps
that are placed on the social security books of the insured persons by
contributions collectors who collaborate with the Fund and who are paid
by a percentage on the proceeds.
A4.
TEBE provides: Medical Care to the insured persons and the members of
their families through affiliated practitioners of 14 specialties who
provide their services at set hours at their private consulting offices
with no participation on the part of the insured. Medicines,
through affiliated pharmacies providing all required medicines for
recovery of their health with a cash participation of 25% down to 0% in
accordance to applying provisions. Hospital
care in Class B at all Public Hospitals and affiliated private clinics. Therapeutic
means necessary for recovery of the health of the insured persons with a
cash participation of 25% down to 0%. Paraclinical
examinations and special therapies by affiliated private Laboratories
and all Public Hospitals with a cash participation of 25% down to 0%.
Childbirth
allowance, funeral expenses. From 1/1/2001 dental care will be provided
also. A5.
TEBE awards old age, invalidity or survivors pensions to persons having
all necessary requirements. Pensions
are paid monthly through the National Bank of Greece and the Greek
Postal Service. The
number of TEBE pensioners throughout Greece are 156,000 persons. A6.
TEBE keeps a landed property registry, keeps track of leases or rental
contracts for real estate and movable property consisting of bank
accounts, Stock Exchange securities, interest-bearing bills,bonds,
mutual funds etc. It
pays salaries to all its personnel, liquidates the amounts of entitled
benefits and reimburses levies for third parties. A7.
For the above mentioned activities, according to the regulation of TEBE,
its personnel should not exceed the number of 1,770 employees; today
1,100 people serve in it.
M.PAPADAKI
A.MYTAKIS |