In the coming days, the Cabinet is expected to consider a proposal regarding the treatment of dividend income, said Minister of Labor and Social Insurance Marinos Mousiouttas.
Mr. Mousiouttas was responding on Thursday to a reporter’s question following a meeting he had with EDEK President Sofia Christodoulou.
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When asked about the discussions regarding the treatment of dividend income as part of the reform, Mr. Mousiouttas confirmed that the proposals under consideration include a relevant provision, but emphasized that nothing has been finalized. “Indeed, among the proposals under discussion, there is a provision regarding dividends. It is not final,” he said, urging people not to jump to conclusions before the process is complete.
Referring to the debate that has arisen regarding the implications of this specific provision, the Minister said that the overall picture should be considered and noted that, if it is determined that something needs to be corrected, the Ministry is open to making the necessary adjustments.
He clarified that the Cabinet has not yet reviewed the proposal and is expected to do so within the next few days. As he said, until then, these are merely recommendations and proposals; once the Cabinet has reviewed them, the Government’s official, documented position will be established.
In the same context, Mr. Mousiouttas stated that, based on the Ministry’s proposals, “all pensions will increase; no one will receive less,” adding that the low-income pensioner allowance will also be increased. He also emphasized that the goal is to maintain both the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund and the sustainability of public finances for current and future generations.
In response to a follow-up question seeking information on a specific amount or threshold regarding dividends, the Minister said he was unable to confirm any figures. He noted that the issue is still under discussion and that the relevant provisions may still be modified.
“We will know the final details once the bill is submitted in the coming days. Let’s be patient,” he concluded.
EDEK and the Minister of Labor exchanged views on pension reform
EDEK President Sofia Gekas raised the need for pension reform to place special emphasis on vulnerable population groups and low-income pensioners, as well as on narrowing the gender pension gap, was raised by EDEK President Sofia Christodoulou during her meeting with the Minister of Labor and Social Insurance.
For his part, the Minister of Labor stated that the discussion on the reform will remain open even after the bill is submitted to Parliament, until the final outcome is determined, noting that there is room for suggestions and an exchange of views.
In remarks following the meeting, Ms. Christodoulou described the discussion as constructive, during which, she said, EDEK was fully briefed on the pension issue.
“For us, it is of the utmost importance to pay special attention to individuals who belong to vulnerable population groups, those with low pensions, as well as to reduce any gender gap in pensions,” he said. He added that EDEK raised specific concerns and ideas and committed to submitting specific proposals, which could be taken into account during the discussion.
Mr. Mousiouttas said that during the meeting, a thorough analysis was conducted of the Ministry of Labor’s proposal for pension reform, covering all its aspects, the current status of the process, and the roadmap for the next steps. He described the exchange of views and suggestions as constructive and assured that the Ministry remains open to proposals.
As he noted, “the process does not end with the submission of the bill” to the relevant House committee, but the discussion will continue until a final outcome is reached. Consequently, he said, there is still room for suggestions, an exchange of views, and clarifications where deemed necessary.
The Minister also expressed his confidence that there would be ongoing and constructive cooperation with EDEK, noting the importance of the reform for improving the standard of living for workers and retirees.
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