The Minister of Labor and Social Security, Niki Kerameos, spoke about the most important labor and insurance issues, in an interview with ERT on Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Called to comment on the duties imposed by the Trump government on the European Union, Mrs Kerameos described them as a very unpleasant development, “which overturns and what we know about world trade for decades, especially from the United States of America”. In fact, he stressed that there will undoubtedly be consequences at the European Union Member States. However, he stressed that our country is more shielded and because it has a strong economy right now, a stable economy, a growth greater than the European average and why it exports to the US less than the average of the Member States of the European Union.

“In 2024, our country exported 2.4 billion euros to America, which is about 1% of GDP, when the average European country in the European Union exports about 3% of GDP to America“He said.

Asked about Europe’s reaction to duties, she replied that such a trade war does not favor anyone. “Everybody loses him. So, what we all want is obviously a de -escalation and we wish this, “the Labor Minister commented, describing the role that Greece will play in the way a key reaction. “There will be discussions at the highest possible level, at the level of Heads of the Member States of the European Union, and Greece there has to play a decisive role,” Ms. Kerameos said, while predicting that this move is changing everything in relation to the philosophy that prevails and the economic model. “It negates basic principles that we know of the global economy, world trade.”

He added that our country has a growth rate of 2.3%, higher than Europe’s average, while also pointing out that it also demonstrates the need for political stability, for a stable plan for our country’s development policy. “And all this, right now, this government is serving them,” he added.

Referring to the new minimum wage, which came into force on April 1, 2025, the Minister of Labor noted that we are now at 880 euros, 6% over last year and 35% over 2019, recalling that in 2019, when the New Democracy took over 650 euros. “Why do I say that? Because we had to travel a much greater distance than other countries, to reach 11th place, that is, just in the middle of the 22 countries of the European Union, which have legislated minimum wage. “

However, he acknowledged that “not all problems are solved with this increase in minimum wage. We have a complete sense of this. But some difficulties are reduced, “stressing that the goal is for the minimum wage to increase with steady steps to 950 euros by 2027.

Responding to criticism of purchasing power, Mrs Kerameos said that our country started at this point very low, observing that, by 2020, it has increased by about 23-24%. “Is it enough? No I will answer you again with your hand in the heart, but all these steps that are taken at the bottom and as it affects the average salary, are steps in the right direction, which is? Of enlargement of available income. “

Regarding the average salary, the Labor Minister said: “At the moment, the average salary of full and part -time is at € 1,342 and, if one gets the average full -time salary, is almost 1,500, at 1,478 euros.” He even added that over the years when the minimum wage is increasing, the labor market has been increasing in the labor market and in the average salary of 28.3%. As he noted, “this is the first time, after many years, that so many employees are employed in full -time contracts. More than three in four Greeks, 76% for the accuracy of workers, is now full -time and this is a rationalization and resolution of the labor market as a whole. “

Responding to the issue of reduction in taxation, he recalled that the present government has reduced or abolished a total of 70 taxes in recent years and, at the same time, is returning a dividend of growth to society.

As far as the Ministry of Labor is concerned, Ms. Kerameos referred to the reduction of insurance contributions by 5.5 percentage points, which was the largest in Europe.

“This means more money at the end of the month for both the employee and the business, a significant reduction in insurance contributions. A few weeks ago, we brought another arrangement, in addition to the 5.5 percentage points, which we have already reduced insurance contributions, and there is another half unit in 2027, with which we first reduced the insurance contributions to overtime, over -over, overnight and holidays. “

On the issue of unemployment, the Minister of Labor said that our country is at 8.6%, noting that this percentage is lower than Sweden, Finland and Spain, having the highest growth rate in Europe, along with Luxembourg.

At this point, he recalled that, in 2019, unemployment was almost 18% and today has fallen to the lowest 17 years, to 8.6%, as in 2008.

Referring to the steps that need to be taken next time, in order to further reduce unemployment, he said that we are now undergoing the hard core of unemployment and stressed the need for targeted measures in specific categories, such as incentives to stimulate women and women’s employment and young people.

“We are organizing” career days “across the country, we have done 42” career days “in 17 cities in Greece and it matters, after all, how many have found a job from these” career days? Over 9,000 confirmed hires, “he said.

At the same time, he noted that this is now expanding abroad.

Citing the recent data issued by Eurostat last week, 420,000 of the 660,000 Greeks, who left the country during the crisis, seeking better professional opportunities, have returned and indicated the tax incentives given to these people as one of the reasons they have chosen it.

Referring to the recent “Rebrain Greece” event, held by the Labor Ministry in London, he revealed that more than 1,300 Greeks abroad participated in it and had the opportunity to chat and interview 26 top -notch business representatives.

“But our job, as I understand it, our debt, our task is to show professional opportunities, the final decision is our compatriots, but our job is to cultivate as much as possible so that these children can return.”

Regarding the time of pensions, the Minister of Labor said that it took an average of 500 days to issue a main pension and, today, the average in the main pensions has fallen below 50 days.

At the same time, it set the goals of 2025 and 2026 on the social security part, which is the faster awarding of pensions, as well as the great emphasis given by the ministry to disability certification centers, making structural interventions.

For example, recently, doctors serving in the disability certification centers have been more than doubled and this means faster certification of our fellow citizens with disabilities. It was 500, while at the moment it is 1,200. Also, new infrastructures were created, opening to the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Galatsi.

As he said, the above interventions have already had a significant impact on citizens’ service, as acceleration has already been observed on scheduled appointments and certificates. “We have a long way to go in front of us in order to constantly see a greater acceleration,” he commented.

Regarding the Tempe tragedy, the Minister of Labor reiterated the need to spill plenty of light in the case and not to have any shadow, with respect to justice, while for the pre -trial commentary that Mr Triantopoulos had chosen for himself the worst possible outcome.

“There is no act that can do pre -trial and cannot do the Judicial Council. No act, ”he added.