The percentage of the new increase that will be given to pensions in 2025 amounts to 2.4%, according to the budget data. This was stated, among others, by the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Niki Kerameos, in an interview she gave to the radio station “Talk Radio”.

“This is the increase, which will be seen by all the country’s pensioners, while in the last two years the increases have reached almost 14%” said Mrs. Kerameos.

To reduce insurance contributionsthe Minister of Labor noted the following: “Since the beginning of the year, the insurance contributions have been reduced by an additional percentage point. What does this mean in practice? The money given for each employee to the state is reduced, so the non-salary costs are reduced. In recent years, in our country, non-salary costs have already decreased by 4.5 percentage points. Together with this reduction we go to 5 percentage points and in 2027 the insurance contributions will be further reduced by half a point, i.e. a total reduction of 6 percentage points. So, this means less money that both employees and employers have to pay.”

In a question about the Pensioner Solidarity Contribution and the personal differenceMs. Kerameos answered the following: “For pensioners who maintain a personal difference, up to 1,600 euros, an extraordinary financial aid of 100 euros to 200 euros will be given, depending on the amount of the pension, which will be paid in the month of December.

Also, another important change will be made, which concerns the Pensioner Solidarity Contribution, which is imposed on pensions above 1,400 euros. If the pensioner is entitled to a main pension of more than 1,400 euros, the Pensioners’ Solidarity Contribution is gradually added.

Because there had been no increases in pensions for too many years, everything was running smoothly in relation to the Pensioners’ Solidarity Contribution.

However, in the last two years, when increases were given to pensions, the following paradox was observed. For example, in the case of a pensioner who receives a pension of 1,390 euros, with the increase given exceeds 1,400 euros, a Solidarity Contribution is imposed on him and he finds himself with less than what he used to receive, even though an increase has been given.

So we’re fixing that. With a special regulation, which we are bringing to the Parliament, we predict that the “threshold” of each tier will increase, as the pension increases each year.”

Regarding the minimum wagethe Minister of Labor emphasized that a bill will be submitted to the Parliament on how the minimum wage will be increased from now on, with the establishment of a new mechanism.

“One side of the coin is how we’re going to boost workers’ disposable income. The other side of the coin is how these increases will actually lead to healthy entrepreneurship and not lead to, for example, a “black” economy or redundancies. For this reason, we make a great effort to constantly reduce the non-salary costs, the so-called deductions. In the last five years, there has been a greater reduction in these bookings compared to other member states of the European Union. It does not mean that the situation is ideal. However, we are constantly trying and within the country’s fiscal margins to bring about the best possible balance” commented Ms. Kerameos.