“Watching the opposition talk about the EFKA modernization bill, I wonder if this is another expression of populism or just in its world, since while it complains about the situation to EFKA, it actually asks us to stay in the situation it complains about!” This was emphasized by the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking to the Social Affairs Committee of the Parliament, during the first day of the discussion of the bill.
“On the one hand we have efforts for substantial changes in EFKA and on the other hand the obsession with populism and spidery dogmas. The policy pursued in EFKA and its predecessors by all governments has proved ineffective and that is why the Agency alone collects 48% of the complaints concerning all public sector bodies “, noted Mr. Hatzidakis, referring then in the condition he received. “We received 1,059,000 insurance claims from the SYRIZA government and a mountain of pending pensions. It bothers you, but this is the reality From 123,000 main pensions issued in 2019 and 161,000 in 2020, we reached 225,000 in 2021 which is an all-time record, using modern IT and management tools as well as certified lawyers and accountants help in this endeavor. We also faced the shame of the downloaded phones with the Single Number 1555, which has received in a few months 1 million calls with a service rate of over 80%.
“But these results are not enough for us, neither in pensions, nor in serving the people. We want to create a new EFKA, faster, more efficient, more friendly to the 6.5 million insured. Our priority is the defenseless Greek citizen! You are with the dogmas and the guilds and we are with the many, the defenseless citizens! ” underlined Mr. Hatzidakis.
Then, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs analyzed the three main axes of the bill:
First, providing incentives and controls at all levels. As he explained, “We give incentives to attract competent executives to EFKA and create the conditions to control the executives, both those who will come and those who are there. Because this is what the insured asks for. To be able to reward the one who achieves the goals and at the same time to control the one who does not do his job well and is indifferent towards the citizen. Let’s go against the logic of leveling, populism and caressing the ears! ”
Secondly, the acceleration of lengthy procedures that prevent, inter alia, the timely supply of consumables while bothering employees and policyholders
And thirdly, the utilization of the real estate of EFKA, the most valuable part of which has been left to decay, for the benefit of the insured since it will generate more income for the Agency.
“One can not remain indifferent to an organization that collects half the complaints of the entire State, nor expect that the problem will be addressed without special intervention. You only suggest hires. We will proceed with the recruitment of contract workers who will assist in the pensions of permanent employees, mainly IT executives and economists. If the problem with recruitment was to be solved completely, then the State would fly! But when you are dealing with a multi-injured person like EFKA, you need a comprehensive approach to the problems! Last year there were much more pensions than any other year! Why did the management change, the approach, the method, which are words foreign to you. You have not understood how indignant the citizens are with the whole political system and by caressing some minorities of employees you are alienated from the wider social majority. Of course, you are doing us a favor! “, Continued Mr. Hatzidakis and concluded:
“You will stay with the trope and we will do the reform. As we did the intervention for the rescue of PPC, in the same way we will proceed to a radical modernization intervention of EFKA, with common sense arrangements to reorganize the most problematic organization in the country !: You all supported together that this bill allegedly affects the public interest and the social character of EFKA and social security in our country. This bill wants to address the long-term problems of EFKA and put it on rails that will lead it forward and make it more friendly to employees and retirees. What hurts the public interest is your populism.
And what affects the social character of the policy implemented in Greece, was the Katrougalos law that you passed and we amended. It is the mess created by SYRIZA during the unification of EFKA and led to 1,059,000 insurance claims. These are the views you express over time and even more so today. It is these views and this policy that harm EFKA, employees and retirees. “On the contrary, the policy we are going to implement is a policy that is going to put things on a different trajectory and will make the government okay at the end of the four years, with its commitments to upgrade the Public Administration and especially EFKA”, he underlined Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.
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