A bill on the first pillar of the pension reform, the Social Insurance Fund, said Minister of Labor and Social Insurance Marinos Mousiouttas, speaking at the festival of the Xyliatos Community, on Tuesday evening, the eve of the feast day of the patron saint, Saint Mamas.
In his speech, Mr. Mousiouttas described the pension reform as “the most important reform the government is undertaking this year,” noting that the key objectives are adequate pension levels, fairness, and the sustainability of the system.
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As he said, the reform brings increases to all pensions, with the greatest support going to those with low pensions.
At the same time, he referred to the tax reform, which takes effect on January 1, 2026, describing it as “a fairer system, with a higher tax-free threshold and deductions that recognize the real burdens on households, such as children’s education, rent, and loan payments.”
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“In practice, this means more money going where families truly need it,” he added.
Within the same reform framework, Mr. Mousiouttas also addressed educational reform and, more specifically, the new system for evaluating teachers and educational performance.
As he noted, the new system “replaces a formal and one-dimensional process with a formative system,” which “provides substantive feedback and professional development and comprehensively evaluates the work of each school.”
Referring to the development of mountain communities, the Minister of Labor said that the government of President Nicos Christodoulides has placed this issue at the center of its priorities, through the National Strategy for the Development of Mountain Communities.
According to Mr. Mousiouttas, the goal is to halt the depopulation of villages, create employment opportunities, support local production, and promote sustainable tourism, so that new families may choose to settle in the village.
At the same time, Mr. Mousiouttas spoke about the importance of the village festival as an institution of social cohesion.
“The village fair has always been more than just a celebration. It was the place where the entire region came together. That’s where trade took place, where young people met, and where the village reunited with its expatriates. It was the most vibrant institution of social cohesion our region had,” he noted.
As he said, “That is exactly what is happening here today; you are restoring the Panayrin to its rightful role,” with the festive Vespers service for the Great Martyr Saint Mamantos, the traditional program, the hands-on workshops, and the exhibition of photographs and historical material at the Museum of Rural Heritage.
Furthermore, referring to Xyliatos, the Minister noted that “it is one of those villages that win you over from the very first moment,” as it is located at the entrance to Pitsilia, with the dam, the picnic area, and the “Adelphoi” forest, and has been a destination for thousands of people for decades.
Source: CNA
