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Strong pressure by the "triple" for accerelation of the reforms

26 May 2010 / 09:05:39  GRReporter
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Even more pressures puts the “triple” for the pension reform and for acceleration of their implementation, said the Minister of Employment Andreas Loverdos. International Monetary Fund, the European Union and the European Central Bank continued to press for more rapid and adverse for the pensioners and workers changes associated with their pensions and wages.

At the same time, on June 5 protest demonstration - march will be held against the voting on the bill. The demonstration will be organized by the union of civil servants announced the press office of ADEDY for grreporter.info, and the programmed for May 29 protest of the two major trade unions GSEE and ADEDY is called off.

Forty years for full pension, a term of three years to implement serious reforms of the bill for the pension security system, merging of the health insurance funds in a total number of three, eliminating of the pensions for widowhood for women under 50 years of age and pensions of unmarried and divorced daughters are the reforms which the “triple” wants to be passed by the next test for evaluation of the Greek economy, which will be carried out in the first ten days of June when will arrive the team of the EU, IMF and ECB. Experts will request payment of the second installment of the loan next September.

As Minister Loverdos revealed, the market for the pension security system is a cruel and creditors insist on the urgent implementation of the measures, as it became clear from the formal letter which they sent last week to the Ministry of Employment and Finance. The minister admitted that "negotiations with the triple are not yet finalized" and they insist on more drastic reforms than those provided for in the bill, which is expected to be passed in early June.

Experts from the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Union insist on the following reforms:

• Reforms of the bill to enter into force from 2015 rather than 2018, which means earlier enaction of the new way of calculating pensions, which will lead to a reduction of pensions including for the employees with many years of service.

• Full pension to be received by employees who served a 40-years period and to impose a penalty of 6% for each year reduction in pension for those who wish to retire early.

• 13 health insurance desks that currently exist to be brought together into three from 2015 (one for staff receiving salaries, one for self insured people and one for farmers), without any exceptions for the desks for journalists and scientists.

• Remove the pensions received by unmarried and divorced daughters of workers in the public and military sector. The bill provides that by 2011 these pensions do not exist.

• Suspension of payment of pensions for widowhood in women under 50 years of age - (including those who have minor children). For widows aged 50-65 years the "triple" wants to be introduced income-related criteria in order to receive a pension.

Minister Loverdos announced that pensioners who receive pensions up to 800 euros for the Christmas holidays will be granted, another extra 200 euros, which is the sum of the Christmas allowance in the amount of 100 euros and allowances for the Easter holidays and vacation, which are in the amount of EUR 50 each.

"Whatever burdens are put on employees and retirees the problem of the pension system will not be solved, until measures against tax evasion are not taken" said the secretary general of the union of employees in the private sector (GSEE) Stathis Anestis.

On the other part, the Minister of Employment stressed on the fact that the amount of unpaid taxes is about 8 billion euro and said that if so requested by the Parliamen he will publish the names of the debtors of health insurance funds. Despite the mass protests public opinion polls show that most Greeks agree that the reforms are necessary, but expressed their anger because they believe that employees and retirees are the only ones who will pay.

Tags: News Economic crisis strikes reforms pensions salaries
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