Hatzidakis: Will the opposition vote against a bill with such a strong social character?

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The horizontal increase of 7.75% that will be given in January 2023 to 1,724,713 pensioners will be only one of the four categories of pension increases that will be given in 2023, the Minister of Labor emphasized.

“I am curious to see if the opposition will vote against a bill with a strong social footprint. With arrangements to boost the income of millions of our fellow citizens, social arrangements and rationalization arrangements. If you vote for it on principle and on the articles, you will be inconsistent with what you say, if you vote against it, tomorrow we will remind a number of social groups (the low pensioners, the disabled, HIV-positive, etc.) that you are turning against them. You have a tough dilemma to face,” said the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Kostis Hatzidakis today before the Plenary of the Parliament, in the debate on the bill to rationalize the insurance legislation.

Referring to the arrangements for supporting citizens’ income, Mr. Hatzidakis pointed out:

-The emergency financial aid to 2.3 million vulnerable citizens: pensioners, disability allowance beneficiaries, uninsured elderly, Minimum Guaranteed Income beneficiaries and Child Benefit beneficiaries, which will be given until December 20.

-The horizontal increase of 7.75% that will be given in January 2023 with the February pensions, to 1,724,713 pensioners (out of a total of 2.3 million).

As the Minister of Labor pointed out, this increase is only one of the four categories of pension increases to be given in 2023: The other three result from the abolition from 1 January 2023 of the solidarity levy (affects 912,644 pensioners), the extraordinary allowance of 250 euros (for 1,206,624 pensioners) and the fourth installment of recalculation for pensioners with more than 30 years of insurance, the who had been punished by the Katrougalou law (concerns 231,655 pensioners).

According to the information provided by the minister:
– 2,499,285 pensioners will receive at least one increase.
– 1,344,696 million pensioners will receive a double increase,
– 185,649 pensioners will receive a triple increase.

At least one additional pension will be received by one in two pensioners, (and some will receive more).

83% of those who have a personal difference will also have a positive effect, either due to the abolition of the solidarity contribution, or due to the extraordinary allowance, which can reach 600 euros per year.

A total of 94.6% of pensioners will get a raise.

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs also recalled the five main rationalization arrangements of the insurance legislation which are:

1. The reduction of the limitation period for unconfirmed debts to EFKL to 10 years from 20
2. The increase in installments for settled debts to EFKA to 24 installments, as also applies to debts to the Tax Office
3. The extension of the “combat five years” to all enlisted men
4. The establishment of a ceiling also for supplementary pensions, otherwise some groups would receive exorbitant pensions of 15,000 or 20,000 euros per month
5. The possibility given to the public fund management companies that have been successfully managing EFKA reserves for 20 years to do the same for the Civil Servants Equity Fund reserves. Responding to the criticism leveled at this provision, Mr. Hatzidakis noted that due to the non-professional management of the Fund’s reserves, their value has greatly diminished. As he said, “There is only 37% left. The criticism that should be made is the other way around, because such a regulation at the limits of the self-evident did not come sooner!”

Mr. Hatzidakis also referred to the main social arrangements that are the reduction of the disability rate to 50% for receiving a pension and disability benefits for all EFKA insured persons for whom a higher percentage was foreseen, the prohibition of discrimination at work against HIV-positive people and the extension of maternity leave for women employed in the private sector to nine months from six, in proportion to the corresponding leave to which mothers working in the State are entitled.

Concluding, Mr. Hatzidakis emphasized that “We will not follow the path of slogans, lies and negativism. It is your right if you have chosen to walk this path, to walk it alone. We in the government and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs have decided to move forward on the path of European reforms, implementing a social policy not in words, but in action.”

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