Denied rumors regarding the reinstatement of the 13th pension and the 13th salary for public sector employees this morning, the Deputy Minister of Finance Dimitris Markopoulos.
Responding to reports regarding the reinstatement of the 13th pension and the 13th salary in the public sector he clarified that no such government plan is envisaged, referring to proposals that far exceed the limits of the Greek economy and would jeopardize fiscal balance.
“What the New Democracy government has consistently done is tell the truth to the citizens. Don’t forget that we are moving forward with what Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. Through a pact of truth, we are therefore making it clear that we must be fiscally stable and balanced.
We are the government that has given Greek retirees more than any other, and we will continue to do so in the future. Let us recall the interventions regarding the personal allowance, the 300 euros provided at a cost of 560 million euros, which benefit 85% of pensioners, and the total 16% increase in pensions from 2023 to the present.
We will also provide an additional 700 million euros starting early next year, based on the trajectory of inflation and GDP. On the other hand, we must be serious and cost-conscious. We have recently been hearing about a 13th pension as well as a 13th month’s salary for public servants. These are expenditures that will total 4 billion euros per year.
The latest package presented at the Thessaloniki International Fair was considered one of the largest and most generous in recent years, amounting to 1.7 billion euros. Therefore, there are no plans to provide a 13th pension or a 13th salary to public sector employees, as this would result in additional costs of 4 billion euros. “2.5 billion euros for pensions and 1.5 billion euros for the additional salary.”
And he added: “We must be cautious, as the facts regarding the Greek economy are clear, and because the Greek people must not be dragged into another crisis. Clearly at the forefront of our agenda is the struggle to improve the lives of pensioners.
However, if we focus solely on a single-issue approach to measures at the Thessaloniki International Fair and on benefits for only one or two social groups, this will mean that we will not address any other sector. Let’s not forget that we have demographic problems. There is a need to support freelancers, private-sector employees, and others.
This does not mean that there will be no further provisions or benefits for retirees or public sector employees. However, we must be realistic and cost-conscious».
