Social Security

The range of supplementary pension cuts was the main issue of the discussion between Labour Minister Giorgos Katrougalos and the representatives of the institutions after lenders’ refusal to accept any increase in insurance contributions.

Turkey's central budget was approved by parliament's general board last week rather than at the beginning of the New Year due to the country's election agenda in 2015. Where is the revenue coming from tax income and privatization going to be spent in this year's budget? 

Commissioner Pierre Moscovici’s timetable for completing the negotiations at the end of March complicates Greek government’s plans that is in a hurry to close the open issue of social security reform by the end of February.

Labour Minister Giorgos Katrougalos discussed all main issues of social security reform with the representatives of institutions, but all of them are still open.

“We discussed in depth the issues and the negotiation was tough” M. Katorugalos stated after the meeting hoping that negotiations would turn up in favor of the Greek society.

Watch the debate on the social security system reform that Greek government proposes.

Addressing Greek Parliament during Tuesday’s off-the-agenda debate on reforming Greece’s social security system, main opposition New Democracy new leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis lashed out at the government accusing Prime Minister of “turning hope into despair.”

Greece’s creditors (EC, ECB, ESM, IMF) are heading to the country on Wednesday evening following the Ministry of Labor’s submission of proposals through to 2019 (another study for Greece until 2060 is still outstanding).

Self-employed freelancers from a number of professions are taking to the streets on Thursday to express their opposition to the government’s planned social security bill. Lawyers, engineers, doctors, solicitors, pharmacists, tax accountants and dozens of other professions are gathering at the University’s Propylaia at Panepistimiou Street in the Athens center at 11.30 a.m. on Thursday.

The new draft bill on social security system that Greek government proposes includes indirect pension cuts of up to 125 euros per month.

According to the newspaper “Eleftheros Typos”, Article 10 of the bill provides the child benefit included in the pension that it will be calculated based on new rates, 8 % for the first child, 10% for the second and 12% for the third child.

In an interview with Sunday edition of Kathimerini newspaper Labour Minister Giorgos Katrougalos claims that he is political flexible to proceed to changes that do not involve issues of principle.