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Beskæftigelsesudvalget 2013-14
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Missoc comparative tables: 1 July 2013.

Austria

Unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld):

The unemployed person must

* be unemployed, capable of work and willing

to work,

* be at the disposal of the job office,

* may not have exhausted the duration of

benefit.

Unemployment assistance (Notstandshilfe):

Additionally, the unemployed person must

have exhausted the right to unemployment

benefit and be in a state of need.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Total unemployment:

Where a job offer or reintegration measure is

turned down, the entitlement is suspended

during six weeks, loss of entitlement for

repeated refusals.

Partial/temporary unemployment: No sanction

foreseen.

In case of providing false information,

concealing material facts or if undue receipt of

benefits was identified the unemployment

benefit (Arbeitslosengeld) is to be refunded.

Compliance with all reporting requirements is

essential.

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Belgium

* To be involuntarily unemployed;

* to be without work;

* to be registered as jobseeker;

* to be fit for work;

* to be available for the labour market;

* to be aged between 18 and 65;

* to be actively seeking work;

* to reside in Belgium;

* to be without remuneration.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

* Obligation to pay back any undue amount;

* exclusion during the whole period of

unavailability for the labour market;

* exclusion in case of non cooperation during

a specific procedure of active search of a job

or during an outplacement;

* administrative sanctions are pronounced by

the Unemployment Office: in case of slight

mistake from 1 to 26 weeks of suspension; if

repeated, the penalty is doubled. Otherwise,

possibility of warning or of total or partial

suspension. In case of heavy mistake, from 4

to 52 weeks of suspension; if repeated,

possibility to loose rights with the obligation of

satisfying again the conditions for eligibility

(see above, "Total unemployment, 1.

Conditions, Qualifying period");

* penal sanctions.

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Bulgaria

* to be unemployed either voluntarily or

involuntarily;

* not working, i.e. not performing any labour

activity that requires compulsory insurance;

* to be registered as unemployed with their

territorial branch of the Employment Agency

(Аге�½ция по заетостта) and to be at the

disposal of the employment office;

* to be available and actively searching for

work, i.e. to behave in a way which will not

cause the termination of the registration at the

employment office (see “Sanctions”);

* no entitlement to a pension for old-age, an

early occupational pension or an old-age

pension granted in another country.

There are no conditions relating to age,

enrolment in education, ability to work and –

for EU/EEA citizens – residence or citizenship.

Payment of the benefit is terminated upon

termination of the registration with the

Employment Agency (Аге�½ция по заетостта).

The Employment Agency terminates the

registration if the person:

* does not follow the recommendations of the

employment intermediary or the actions,

terms and visit schedule included in the Action

Plan;

* does not report to Employment Agency

when invited or within 3 days thereafter;

* changes address without notification to the

Employment Agency;

* declines a proposed job offer which is

deemed appropriate for the person;

* refuses to take part in employment and/or

training programmes;

* decides to terminate his/her participation in

a training programme.

Any person who makes/confirms a falsehood

or hides the truth in a written declaration or

message sent through electronic channels

which is to be submitted to an authority in

order to certify the truth shall be sentenced to

imprisonment up to 3 years or fined from

BGN 100 (€51) to BGN 300 (€153) (criminal

penalty).

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Croatia

Claimants must be:

* involuntarily unemployed, i.e. they should

not have lost their job by their own fault or by

agreement with the employer,

* capable of work,

* active job seekers and available for

employment,

* aged between 15 and 65 years, and

* registered with the Croatian Employment

Service (Hrvatski zavod za zapošljavanje)

within the legal deadline.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Administrative measures: suspension or

termination of the benefit payments and

obligation to refund but no criminal penalties.

Payments of benefits to the beneficiary shall

be discontinued or shall be terminated in cases

prescribed by law (e.g. if the beneficiary fails

to report to the Croatian Employment Service

(Hrvatski zavod za zapošljavanje) once a

month; if he or she is found to work without

an attestation, a contract or a decision on

which his or her work is based; if he or she

refuses to accept jobs offered; if he or she

does not fulfil conditions concerning active job

seeking and availability for work).

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Cyprus

* To be voluntarily or involuntarily

unemployed;

* not working;

* not engaged in work that earns more than

1/12 of the amount of the basic insurable

earnings (Βασικές Ασφαλιστέες Αποδοχές)

(€14.53 per day for 2013);

* to be registered as job seeker and to be at

the disposal of the employment office;

* to be registered as unemployed at the

District Social Insurance Office and to report

on a regular basis;

* to be capable for work;

Administrative penalties such as:

* Suspension or disqualification of benefit (if

the employee is dismissed due to his/her fault

or refuses to take on a specified job),

* suspension of benefit (when investigation of

the applicant’s claim is being processed),

* refund of benefit (when the applicant was

not entitled to the whole or part of the

benefit).

Criminal penalties after a court’s decision such

as:

* Imprisonment up to 3 years,

* penalty up to €8,500, or

* both of the above.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Czech Republic

* No working activity,

* not studying,

* registered as a jobseeker with the Regional

Branch of the Labour Office,

* not receiving an old-age pension,

* the payment of unemployment benefits shall

be postponed for the period for which there is

the legal entitlement to severance pay. (If the

employer did not pay the severance pay, the

Labour Office of the Czech Republic provides

compensation for unpaid severance pay, and

subsequently recovers it from the employer),

* no right to unemployment benefits if the

In case of infringement of the conditions, the

jobseeker is suspended from the regional

labour register. A new registration is possible

after 6 months. No right to be registered as a

jobseeker in case the unemployed person quits

(without any serious reason or on the basis of

agreement with the employer) the suitable

employment mediated by the Regional Branch

of the Labour Office, or if the suitable

employment mediated by the Regional Branch

of the Labour Office was terminated by the

employer due to a breach of obligations arising

from the legal regulation pertinent to his/her

job in an especially gross manner.

Illegally claimed benefits have to be paid back.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Denmark

* No working activity;

* No formal educational activity;

* Registered as job seeker and at the disposal

of the employment office;

* Capable of working;

* Available for the labour market;

* Age between 18-65 years;

* Actively seeking employment and co-

operating with the employment office to build

up an individual action plan;

* Residing in Denmark.

Fraud against an unemployment insurance

fund, which leads to incorrect payment of

unemployment benefits, will be sanctioned

with suspension and if the fraud is repeated,

expulsion out of the fund.

Failure to collaborate with the employment

service can lead to suspension of

unemployment benefits for a certain period.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Estonia

Unemployment Insurance Benefit

(töötuskindlustushüvitis):

* to be involuntarily unemployed,

* to have no working activity or other

equivalent activity,

* to be registered as unemployed with the

Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund (Eesti

Töötukassa);

* to be fit for work and otherwise not

prevented from taking a suitable work,

* to be available for work,

* aged between 16 and pensionable age,

except persons on pre-retirement pension,

Unemployment Insurance Benefit

(töötuskindlustushüvitis):

Payment is discontinued if the person does

not attend the local employment office at least

once every 30 calendar days or refuses an

offer of a suitable work, in these cases

however the person may further receive the

unemployment allowance (töötutoetus).

If a recipient knowingly submits incorrect

information or fails to notify circumstances

which affect his or her entitlement, the

Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund (Eesti

Töötukassa) will reclaim the benefit from the

beneficiary. The Fund can do so in one time or

according to a repayment profile agreed with

the person concerned. If the person does not

repay the sums paid without legal basis, an

official order will be issued. In the case of

failure to comply with the official order, the

Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund may

issue an official order for compulsory

execution pursuant to the procedure provided

for in the Code of Enforcement Procedure

(Täitemenetluse seadustik).

Unemployment allowance (töötutoetus):

Payment is terminated if the person:

* fails to appear for a visit at the Estonian

Unemployment Insurance Fund for the second

time,

* fails to comply with the individual action

plan or to accept suitable work for the second

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Finland

Insurance:

* To be involuntarily unemployed;

* Not working;

* To register as a job seeker and to be at the

disposal of the employment office;

* To be capable for work;

* To be available for full time work;

* Age between 17-64;

* To be actively seeking employment;

* To be resident.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

If the jobseeker refuses a job or declines

training or has been on the labour market for

less than 6 weeks during the last 6 months

without a valid reason he/she is not entitled to

a benefit for 60 days.

The unemployment benefit is not paid for 15

days if the jobseeker fails to attend the

appointment for making a job-seeking plan or

its updating.

Obligation to pay back any undue amount.

Administrative and criminal penalties are

possible.

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France

Unemployment insurance (assurance

chômage):

a) not to have left previous employment

voluntary, without good cause;

b) to be effectively and permanently looking

for work;

c) to be registered as jobseeker and to

conform to a personalised back-to-work action

plan;

d) to be physically able to work;

e) not to have reached the statutory

retirement age (between 60 and 62).

However, the indemnity is maintained (within

the limit of its maximum duration) until the

person reaches the age for entitlement to full

Possibility of temporary or definitive

suspension of benefits if there is no active

search for a work.

In case of fraud, reimbursement of the sums

unduly received and possibility of penal

sanctions in case of false or dishonest

declarations.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Germany

Unemployment insurance

(Arbeitslosenversicherung):

An employed person is considered to be

unemployed if he or she

* is not engaged in an employment

relationship (without work),

* takes an effort to put an end to this situation

(efforts of his or her own) and

* is available for the placement efforts

undertaken by the employment agency

(availability).

The person's employment, self-employment or

activity as collaborating family member does

not rule out that the person is without work if

the time of the work or activity performed is

less than 15 hours per week.

Under certain circumstances, entitlement to

unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld),

partial unemployment benefit

(Teilarbeitslosengeld), short-time working

allowance (Kurzarbeitergeld) and seasonal

short-time working allowance (Saison-

Kurzarbeitergeld) is suspended during 12

weeks (i.e. unemployment caused by the

person) and for up to 12 weeks in the event of

an unjustified refusal of a suitable job.

Basic security benefits for jobseekers

(Grundsicherung für Arbeitsuchende):

Sanctions possible for capable beneficiaries

who do not make an effort to participate in the

labour market or do not accept a suitable

employment. Reduction of the unemployment

benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld II) by 30% of the

relevant normal requirements (Regelbedarfe)

for three months if the beneficiary fails to

comply with his or her duties for the first time

and by further 30% of the relevant normal

requirements if the beneficiary fails to comply

with his or her duties for a second time. In the

case of repeated failure of the beneficiary

within a 12-month-period the unemployment

benefit II will cease. Additional benefits in kind

can be provided to a reasonable extent.

Stricter sanctions for capable beneficiaries

aged between 16 and 25 years if they fail to

comply with their duties.

Recovery in case of undue receipt of benefits.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Greece

* To be unemployed involuntarily;

* not to be working for more than 3 days a

week, or 12 days a month;

* to be registered at an employment exchange

and to be at the disposal of the exchange;

* to be capable of and available for work.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Total unemployment:

The unemployment benefit is suspended when

the beneficiary does not react after 3 calls

from the employment agency for a job offer or

for a vocational training opportunity.

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Hungary

* Being a job-seeker (to be voluntarily or

involuntarily unemployed, not being a full-time

student),

* no entitlement for old-age pension,

rehabilitation annuity (rehabilitációs jaradék)

or benefits for persons with changed working

capacity (megváltozott munkaképességű

személyek ellátásai),

* seeking employment (to be available for full

time work and to be registered as a job-

seeker),

* co-operation with the labour centre.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Payment of Job-seeker Benefit (Álláskeresési

járadék) and Job-seeker Aid Before Pension

(Nyugdíj előtti álláskeresési segély) should be

terminated if the job-seeker:

A. ceases to be registered as a result of:

* non-fulfilment of the conditions for granting

the Job-seeker Benefit (see “Total

unemployment, 1. Conditions, Main

conditions”);

* non-compliance with the obligation to

attend the meetings scheduled by the labour

centre;

* failure to accept an appropriate job offer by

the labour centre;

* failure to enrol in a free training course or

to participate in an employment facilitating

labour market programme.

B. fails to report to the labour centre that

(s)he pursues a gainful activity.

Payment of Job-seeker Benefit (Álláskeresési

járadék) and Job-seeker Aid Before Pension

(Nyugdíj előtti álláskeresési segély) is

terminated if the job-seeker:

* so requests,

* becomes entitled to benefits for persons

with changed working capacity (megváltozott

munkaképességű személyek ellátásai),

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Iceland

* Unemployed (voluntarily or involuntarily);

* not entitled to wages or other remuneration

for working activity;

* capable for ordinary work in general;

* available for the labour market without any

restrictions;

* age between 18 and 69 years;

* registered with the Directorate of Labour

(Vinnumálastofnun);

* actively seeking work;

* residence and stay in Iceland.

The following may result in the forfeiture of

benefit rights for a certain period:

* The unemployed does not comply with an

employment search schedule.

* The unemployed does not come to a

scheduled interview at the Directorate of

Labour (Vinnumálastofnun).

* Refusal of an offer of work made through the

Directorate of Labour (Vinnumálastofnun).

* The unemployed gives incorrect or

misleading information or conceals information

concerning his circumstances.

If the beneficiary forfeits his/her benefit rights

after having received benefits for 30 months a

new benefit period can only commence after

24 months, during which there must be 6

months of employment.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Ireland

Insurance and Assistance:

* Is involuntarily unemployed;

* is not a full-time student;

* is registered as a jobseeker;

* is capable for work;

* is available for full-time work;

* is aged between 18 and 66 or, with certain

limited exceptions in receipt of another welfare

benefit or pension;

* is actively seeking work.

Assistance:

Insurance and Assistance:

Persons who fail to satisfy the main conditions

for payment may have their payment reduced

or withdrawn.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Italy

* To be involuntarily unemployed,

* not engaged in work for more than 5

consecutive days;

* to be capable of work;

* to be available for the employment office;

* not benefiting from any other pension

treatment;

* no income higher than the personal annual

taxable limit;

* claim to be presented within 2 months (98

days in case of dismissal without notice).

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Suspension of benefits in case of voluntary

unemployment (refusal of an appropriate job)

or in case of refusal to attend recycling

training.

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Latvia

* Is voluntarily or involuntarily unemployed;

* is not working (is not considered to be an

employee or a self-employed person in

accordance with the Law on State Social

Insurance);

* is not acquiring a basic or secondary

education on a full-time basis;

* is registered as unemployed with the State

Employment Agency (Nodarbinātības valsts

aģentūra);

* is able to work and ready to enter into

labour relations immediately;

* has reached 15 years of age but has not

Withholdings of Unemployment Benefit

(Bezdarbnieka pabalsts) in accordance with

decisions of the court and other institutions

(officials). The amount of the benefit which

has been overpaid shall be withheld if:

* it was overpaid due to fault by unemployed

person,

* the unemployed person has provided false or

incomplete information, and

* the unemployed person has not informed the

authorities of any changes in circumstance

affecting his entitlement to a benefit. In this

case monthly withholdings shall not exceed

10% of the payable benefit and any amounts

withheld shall be remitted to the Special

Employment Budget.

If the person fails to cooperate with the

employment services twice (e.g. he/she

refuses suitable job offers twice), the status of

unemployed person and the payment of the

Unemployment benefit shall be terminated.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Liechtenstein

The unemployed is entitled to unemployment

benefit (Arbeitslosenentschädigung) if he or

she:

* is totally or partially unemployed,

* has suffered an accreditable loss of work,

* has completed the obligatory education and

is neither of the age to be entitled to a proper

old-age pension under the Old-age and

Survivors' Insurance Act (Gesetz über die

Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung,

AHVG) nor in actual receipt of an old-age

pension under the AHVG,

* registers in person with the Office for

economic affairs on the first day as of which he

or she claims unemployment benefit and as

Cessation of entitlement to unemployment

benefit (Arbeitslosenentschädigung) in case

of:

* voluntary unemployment (i.e. refusing a

decent job),

* insufficient personal efforts,

* unfulfilling the control obligations or non-

respect of the instructions given by the Office

for economic affairs,

* giving false or incomplete information or

infringement of the information and

declaration requests in any other way,

* unjustified receipt or attempted receipt of

daily cash benefits.

The cessation lasts for each violation between

5 and 60 days depending on the type of

breach.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Lithuania

* to be voluntary or involuntary unemployed;

* no working activity; also implies situation "is

not a full-time (day-time course) student";

* to be capable for work;

* to be available to Employment service;

* to be of working age (from 16 to the age of

old-age pension established by the Law on

State Social Insurance Pensions; i.e. 16-60

years and 4 months for women and 16-62

years and 8 months for men);

* no pension entitlement;

* to register with the local office of Lithuanian

No payment of Unemployment Insurance

Benefit (Nedarbo draudimo išmoka) if a

person:

* rejected an offered job appropriate to

his/her professional competence, health state

and in appropriate distance from home;

* refused to participate in the active labour

market policy measures planned in the

individual action plan without justifiable

reason;

* did not visit a local office of Lithuanian

Labour Exchange (Lietuvos darbo birža) in

time defined to him/her to apply the offered

job or to participate in ALMP (active labour

market policies) without justifiable reason;

* refused to pass a health test to define

his/her availability for work.

In case of fraud the sanction is the

termination of entitlement to Unemployment

Insurance Benefit and of the registration in a

local office of Lithuanian Labour Exchange.

Also the person cannot register again for a

period of 6 months.

Sanctions are not taken in case of justifiable

reasons defined by the Law (e.g. natural

disaster, an accident, death of parents,

children or spouse and etc.).

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Luxembourg

* To be involuntarily unemployed,

* work not permitted, unless part-time and

with anti-accumulation rules applying,

* to be registered as jobseeker,

* to be fit to work,

* to be available for work,

* to be aged between 16 and 65,

* to accept suitable employment or an active

measure offered,

* to be resident in Luxembourg when the

redundancy occurs,

* file a claim for the benefit within 2 weeks.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Loss of unemployment allowance during 7

days (30 days in case of repetition) if the

unemployed person fails to report to the

employment office.

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Malta

* Registered with the employment office,

* Involuntarily unemployed

* fit and available for work.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Administrative: Benefit is suspended.

Upon criminal conviction the defendant is

liable to:

* a fine of between €46.59 and one and a half

times the amount of benefit unlawfully

received or €1,164.69, whichever is the

higher,

* imprisonment for a term of between three

months and twelve months, or

* both a fine and imprisonment.

A person can be struck-off the unemployment

employment services.

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Norway

* Suffer loss of income due to voluntary or

involuntary unemployment,

* not be engaged in working activity (persons

in education, training or unpaid work are

normally not eligible),

* register at the Labour and Welfare

Administration (Arbeids- og velferdsetaten) as

a jobseeker,

* have capacity for work,

* be available for any job or labour market

measure,

* be under 67 years of age,

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Suspension of the right to benefits for 8 weeks

when a jobseeker refuses to take a job or

participate in labour market qualifying

measures, longer periods of 12 weeks or 6

months in the event of recurrence once or

twice respectively, within a twelve months

period.

Suspension of the right to benefits for 4 weeks

when a jobseeker refuses to meet with the

labour and welfare office (NAV) without

reasonable grounds, longer periods of 8 or 12

weeks in the event of recurrence once or twice

respectively, within a twelve months period.

A jobseeker who has declared incorrect

information or has failed to provide

information about matters that may affect

his/her entitlement to unemployment benefit

can be excluded from the right to

unemployment benefit for up to 12 weeks the

first time and up to 26 weeks in the event of

recurrence within a period of three years.

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Poland

* Involuntary unemployed,

* without work or payment,

* registered with the employment agency,

* to be capable for work,

* to be available for full-time work,

* aged at least 18 years of age and less than

60 years (woman) or 65 years (man),

* no entitlement to old-age or invalidity

pension,

* Polish or EU or EEA or Swiss citizenship,

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

A person who unduly received any cash

payments shall be obliged to reimburse them

within a period of 14 days from the decision.

The amount of unduly received payments shall

be subject to repayment in accordance with

the administrative execution procedures.

Failure to collaborate with the employment

services results in termination of the right to

unemployment benefit.

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Portugal

Unemployment insurance:

* To be involuntarily unemployed;

* not working;

* to be registered as job seeker with the job

centre;

* to be fully capable of working;

* to be available for work;

* not to be in receipt of an invalidity or old-

age pension;

* to actively look for work;

* to reside in Portugal.

Unemployed person:

Penalty from €100 up to €700 if the person

does not communicate to the social security

body any fact liable to lead to:

* the suspension or reduction of benefits;

* the reduction of the amount of the

unemployment assistance;

* the judicial decision against the employer in

situations foreseen by law.

Penalty from €250 up to €1,000 if the person

has a simultaneous gainful activity.

The person is cancelled from the register of

the job centre if without any acceptable

reason:

* s/he refuses an acceptable job, a socially

useful job, a professional training, the Personal

Work Plan or any other active measure for

employment in force;

* s/he is not actively seeking work for the

second time or does not follow the

recommendations established in the Personal

Work Plan;

* s/he does not appear at the agreed date at

the job centre, or at the entity indicated by

the job centre.

A new registration to the Job Centre can only

be possible 90 days after the exclusion.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Romania

* To be involuntarily unemployed,

* not working,

* to be registered as unemployed with the

National Agency for Employment (Agentia

Nationala pentru Ocuparea Fortei de Munca),

* to be able to work,

* to be available for work,

* to be aged between 16 and the date of

meeting the conditions for the Old-Age

Pension (pensie pentru limita de varsta) (see

Table VI "Old-age”, “Conditions, 1. Qualifying

period” and “3. Legal retirement age/Standard

pension”),

Termination of Unemployment Indemnity

(indemnizatie de somaj) in case of e.g.:

* unjustified refusal of a job offer,

* unjustified refusal of a vocational

rehabilitation.

Suspension of Unemployment Indemnity in

case of e.g.:

* Not attending monthly or when requested

the National Agency for Employment (Agentia

Nationala pentru Ocuparea Fortei de Munca).

Fraud entails disciplinary, material, civil, or

criminal liability, as appropriate.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Slovakia

* to be involuntarily unemployed,

* to register as jobseeker, to be at the

disposal of the Labour Office and to report to it

within 3 days,

* to be capable for work,

* to be available for the labour market without

any restrictions,

* no entitlement for old-age pension,

* to be actively seeking employment.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Rejection from the Jobseekers Register

(Evidencia uchádzačov o zamestnanie) for

those who do not co-operate with the Office of

Labour, Social Affairs and Family (Úrad práce,

sociálnych vecí a rodiny), work abroad or

illegally. Jobseekers can register again after 6

months.

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Slovenia

To be an unemployed person for the purposes

of unemployment insurance, a jobseeker

should be: able to work; registered with the

Employment Service; actively searching for

work; willing to accept appropriate or suitable

employment; and not belong to one of the

following categories:

* a person in an employment relationship,

* a person carrying out a self-employed

activity,

* an executive of a partnership,

* a farmer,

* a pensioner,

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Reasons for termination of the entitlement to

benefits are defined by law, and mainly relate

to: not being available for work; not searching

for work; unjustifiably declining employment,

temporary work, measures of training and

education or other measures for

reemployment; and working illegally

(moonlighting).

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Spain

Insurance:

* involuntarily unemployed as legally defined;

* register as job seeker and to be at the

disposal of the employment office with an

obligation to actively seek employment;

* capable and willing to work;

* to be over 16 years of age and under

ordinary retirement age for the purpose of

receiving such pension, except in cases where

the worker does not credit sufficient

contributions;

* affiliated to a social security scheme that

covers this risk and to be an active contributor

or in a situation treated as such on the date

Misconducts that are regarded as infractions

under the scope of unemployment protection,

their corresponding sanctions and the

sanctioning procedure are all established by

law.

The law distinguishes between minor, serious

and very serious infractions. Minor infractions,

such as not attending appointments at the

employment office, may be sanctioned with

suspension of the benefit during one month.

Very serious infractions, such as pursuing

work while drawing unemployment benefit,

may result in loss of the benefit.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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Sweden

Applicants are entitled to benefit in the event

of unemployment if they:

* are registered as jobseekers at the public

employment office as prescribed by the

Government or an authority designated by the

Government,

* are capable of working and there is nothing

to prevent them from undertaking work on

behalf of an employer for at least 3 hours each

working day and an average of at least 17

hours per week,

* are prepared to accept an offer of suitable

work during a period for which they have not

given notice of an impediment that can be

accepted by the unemployment fund,

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Suspension from entitlement to benefit for 45

days if the applicant has left work without

valid cause. Suspension from entitlement to

benefit for 60 days if the applicant has been

suspended from work owing to improper

conduct.

Reduction by 25% of the unemployment

benefit for 40 days if the applicant has refused

a suitable job offer. Reduction by 50% the

second time and suspension the third time.

The law on benefit fraud (bidragsbrottslagen

(2007:612)) is applicable to unemployment

benefits. The law states in its section 2 that a

person who gives wrongful information or fails

to report changed circumstances which he or

she is obliged to report according to laws or

regulations, and therefore risks the wrongful

payment of a benefit or the payment of a too

high amount, is convicted of benefit fraud.

Actions mentioned in section 2 which are

committed out of gross neglicence are an

offence. The penalty can be a fine or

imprisonment. A person who, before the

payment of a benefit, voluntarily takes action

so that a correct decision can be taken, is not

convicted.

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Switzerland

The insured person must:

* be unemployed;

* be subject to a job loss of at least 2

consecutive days, together with a loss of

salary;

* be available for recruitment;

* have completed compulsory schooling, have

not yet reached the age giving entitlement to

a 1st pillar old-age pension and not receive

such a pension;

* comply with the control requirements;

* be domiciled in Switzerland.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Total unemployment and partial/temporary

unemployment (a):

Suspension of entitlement to benefits if the

insured person:

* is without work through his own fault;

* has renounced, at the expense of the

insurance, exercising his salary claims towards

his last employer;

* does not do all that can be reasonably

expected to find a suitable job;

* does not observe the unemployment control

prescriptions or the instructions of the

relevant authority, in particular, refuses a

suitable job, does not take part in an active

labour market programme, interrupts it

without any legitimate motivation, jeopardises

or prevents the course of the programme or

the realisation of its goal;

* has given false or incomplete information or

has infringed the obligation to provide

information spontaneously or on request and

notify this;

* has unduly obtained or attempted to obtain

the benefit;

* has received daily allowances during the

working-out stage of a project but does not

start the self-employed activity after the

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The Netherlands

* To be involuntary unemployed,

* loss of at least 5 or half of the working hours

per week,

* timely registration with the Institute for

Employee Benefit Schemes (UWV)

[Uitvoeringsinstituut

Werknemersverzekeringen (UWV)],

* to be capable for work,

* to be available for work,

* below the legal retirement age (AOW-

gerechtigde leeftijd),

* seeking employment,

If the beneficiary does not comply with the

regulations, the social security agency is in

principle obliged to impose an administrative

measure (entire or partial refusal of the

benefit) or a fine.

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

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United Kingdom

Contribution-based Jobseekers' Allowance:

* to be involuntarily unemployed,

* is not engaged in work for 16 or more hours

a week;

* to be capable of work;

* to be available for work;

* is under pensionable age;

* has entered into a Jobseekers' agreement;

* to be actively seeking employment;

* is in Great Britain;

X. Unemployment

Total unemployment

1. Conditions

Main conditions

X. Unemployment

Sanctions

Contribution-based Jobseekers' Allowance and

Income-based Jobseekers' Allowance will not

be paid for various periods of time if:

* the jobseeker fails to show they had just

cause for leaving a job voluntarily;

* the jobseeker has refused or failed to

comply with a reasonable 'Jobseekers'

direction' (see below);

* they lost their last job because of

misconduct;

* the jobseeker has, without good cause,

refused or failed to apply for a vacancy notified

by an employment officer, or failed to accept it

when it was offered;

* the jobseeker lose their place on a

compulsory training scheme or employment

programme because of misconduct;

* the jobseeker refuses or fails to apply or

even gives up a place or fails to attend a place

on a compulsory training scheme or

employment programme without good cause;

* the jobseeker has neglected to avail

themselves of a reasonable opportunity of

employment;

* the jobseeker has been dismissed or

discharged from the Armed Forces.The