The government moved to Friday a planned cabinet decision on its pension system, saying some aspects of the reform were still on the table.
Because of the EU/IMF bailout plan, Greece must cut pension benefits, curb early retirement, increase the number of contribution years needed to get a full pension from 35-37 to 40 and raise women’s retirement age from 60 to 65.
These main aspects have been agreed on, but Greek media say there are still discussions over some other issues such as, the so-called ‘arduous professions’ and rules for mothers of children under 18.
“There are some issues still being discussed, the prime minister will take the final decision tomorrow,” a senior official said.
The pension bill will also include clauses to reform labor rules, after lawmakers protested against plans to push them through with a presidential decree.
These regulations will make it easier and cheaper to fire workers and thus allow firms to pay young first hires less than the minimum wage (80%).
“Tomorrow the cabinet meeting will confer and approve the labor and the pension reform,” said another official participating in a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
According to the official, the pension and labor law would be submitted on Friday or next week, whereas it had initially been expected to take place earlier this week.
“We have the (EU/IMF) memorandum which imposed on us a specific framework the moment we signed it, and based on this framework, we are trying to find the most socially fair and acceptable arrangements, so that we have a finally viable and as much as possible fair result,” government spokesman George Petalotis, said.
Greek unions will hold a 24-hour strike on June 29 to protest against the reform.
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