Of Chrysostom Chufi

In the public debate on the next round of tax burdens for 2026 – which the government itself opened – the demand for further reduction in insurance contributions is gaining more and more dynamic.

In the presentation of the quarterly report by the House Budget Office before the Parliament’s Economic Affairs Committee, the head of the office when asked what the government should do with the fiscal space at its disposal was clear in terms of the priorities to be set. THE Konstantinos Tsoukalas He promoted the reduction of taxation in wage labor while reducing insurance contributions – employers and employees. In fact, the emphasis should be placed to young people as he said.

At the same time, BSE presented his annual research on how the business world evaluates the state of the Greek economy. To the question of timeless problems that prevent business operation and development, Labor costs are in third place:

  • Energy cost 94%
  • Taxation of 87%
  • 86% insurance contributions

In this environment, 48% of businesses say they have decided that they will not make wage increases this year while 49% will not invest.

The truth is that the government has tried to tackle the problem. Since 2019 it has taken over 4 reductions – the latter has entered into force since the New Year of 2025 – reducing non -wage costs by 5.4 points – 3.02 points for the employer and 2.38 points for the employee.

Since 2019, a € 1500 employee has seen cumulatively out of the 4 reductions one monthly benefit of € 43.4 and his employer 50.55 €.

In addition, it has promised to reduce contributions by half a unit in 2027 so that the total reduction in non -wage costs reaches 5.9 points.

The whole debate that is being developed, of course, wants the government to bring the “promise” Its one year earlier-from New Year’s Eve 2026-not to proceed if there are opportunities at something better as the cost of reduction is estimated at € 350-400m for each half a reduction unit of contributions.

But despite the reductions, Greece according to the OECD is located In the 9th place of the Eurozone Regarding insurance contributions to the main insurance. After 4 reductions the percentage has fallen to 29.5% – 18.2% employers and 11.3% employees – versus 21.5%Community average:

Austria 35.6%

France 35%

Slovakia 34.5%

Slovenia 34.2%

Germany 34.1%

Czech Republic 34

Belgium 32.3%

Italy 31.2%

Greece 29.5%

To the workers’ insurance contributions The situation is worse with our country in 5th place:

  • Slovenia 20.3%
  • Lithuania 19.2%
  • Germany 17.3%
  • Austria 14%
  • Greece 11.3%

In terms of businesses of employers Our country is right in the middle and 10th place:

  • France 26.7%
  • Estonia 25.3%
  • Slovakia 24.4%
  • Italy 24%
  • Spain 23.4%
  • Austria 21.6%
  • Belgium 21.3%
  • Portugal 19.2%
  • Latvia 19.1%
  • Greece 18.2%