Pension reform is now the focus of intensive discussions, with thematic sessions held twice a week, following marathon consultations among social partners at the Ministry of Labor. The government, employer organizations, and labor unions are seeking to bridge their differences, with the “unwavering goal” of completing the process and implementing the new framework in a timely manner.
As Labor Minister Marinos Mousiouttas stated after the meetings concluded, the discussion was “lively and quite constructive,” with the social partners arriving with a “long list of questions” regarding the draft bill presented to them on August 19. In order to expedite the process, it was decided to organize the discussions around specific topics every Monday and Thursday.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The process begins next Monday (4:30 p.m.) with a focus on Pillar Zero (low-income pensioners), while on Thursday the 12% actuarial reduction will be on the agenda. “We’ve divided the sessions into thematic areas so we can discuss them piece by piece, ensure everyone understands the same thing, and see where we can find common ground,” the minister emphasized.
During the lengthy meeting, the two government proposals regarding benefits and the incomes of low-income pensioners were initially examined—an issue that constitutes a “key criterion” for the unions. The Labor Advisory Council also noted the unions’ strong concerns regarding how to reduce the penalty from 12% to 7.5% —since the proposed method “does not appear, at first glance, to satisfy them”—, the long-standing demand for a widow’s pension for men who became widowers in 2018 and earlier, as well as the employers’ demand for a detailed cost analysis of the bill.
At the same time, Mr. Mousiouttas announced that the Minister of Finance or his representative will attend the next meeting, in order to explain to the partners the critical issue of the repayment of the state’s debt to the Social Security Fund (SSF) and the transfer of annual surpluses to the new Fund to be established. At the same time, the issue of investment policy was briefly touched upon, with discussions on the relevant bill for the Second Pillar scheduled to begin in September.
Acknowledging that this is a “difficult bill,” the Minister of Labor expressed his confidence that, through a “spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding,” the common goal will be achieved. Finally, he reiterated that the government’s intention remains to submit the bill to Parliament in September, so that the reform can take effect on January 1 and retirees can immediately see increases in their benefits.
