According to Eurostat data, 1 out of 10 European workers are at risk of poverty and have to rely on the help of food banks. The article on Euronews recently said that the new wave of “new poverty” is predicted to cover Europe if the Covid-19 pandemic continues.
The “new wave of poverty” covers Europe
The Covid-19 pandemic was indeed pushing many people in Europe into poverty. In France, in October 2020, representatives of about 10 associations operating in the fields of charity, community work, youth assistance … had a meeting with French Prime Minister Jean Castex and said that according to the According to these associations, an additional 1 million French people were pushed into poverty.
This number is only an estimate and is likely to be even higher because the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 alone caused at least 800,000 French jobless workers. This is a fact that is not surprising because in 2020, France has had to block the country twice as well as for a long time to implement measures to limit and distance society to make the economy. moment of paralysis, like in March
to April 2020.
Industries such as restaurants, hotels, tourism, cultural performances, events, aviation … have been extremely affected and from mid-2020 until now, France has witnessed a wave of Massive layoffs, the latest is the case of car tire maker Michelin laying 2300 workers.
With an unemployment rate of over 10% in 2020, many French households will be pushed into poverty when losing their jobs. However, it should be noted that, since the appearance of Covid-19, France has also faced an increasing trend of poverty over the past five years.
In 2018, about 9.3 million French people, about 14.8% of all households, were classified as poor, with a monthly income of less than 1,063 euros. The Covid-19 pandemic further accelerated this trend. Many people find themselves in the situation of having to run and eat each meal.
According to the charity food distribution associations, the number of French registered to receive charity food has increased to 30% in 2020. In September 2020, French Health Minister Olivier Veran also gave the number is about 8 million French people need food assistance, compared with 5.5 million in 2019. The number of people applying for mutual income (RSA), a type of social security, has also increased by 10%.
Other European countries also face a similar situation with France. Spain is one of the countries where the poor have suffered the most dire consequences of Covid-19. According to Oxfam Intermon, an additional 1 million Spaniards have fallen into poverty because of Covid-19.