Panos Tsakloglou

The cumulative increase in pensions over the last three years will significantly exceed 13%, Deputy Labor and Social Security Minister Panos Tsakloglou said in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency on Sunday.

Pension increases, lump-sum financial aid, reductions in deductions, “corrections for injustices,” and other significant changes will be promoted starting from autumn, benefiting large groups of pensioners.

Around 100,000 pensioners have declared on a special electronic platform of the Single Social Security Entity (EFKA) that they are working, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security Panos Tsakloglou, said in an interview on Saturday.

The minimum monthly salary in Greece stood at 650 euros before the current government came to power and has now increased to €830, Deputy Labor & Social Insurance Minister Vassilis Spanakis noted in an interview with Skai radio on Wednesday.

The remuneration of doctors at Disability Assessment Centers (KEPA), as well as that of the secretaries, will increase by 50% following a joint ministerial decision (KYA) signed by Labor and Social Affairs Minister Domna Michailidou and Deputy Minister Panos Tsakloglou on Monday.

The Labor Ministry will grant social security capacity to approximately 100,000 self-employed people with small debts to the Single Social Security Entity (EFKA) - from a few cents to 100 euros.

The vast majority of self-employed professionals, who choose the lowest (or first) social security category, will pay almost 8 euros per month or €95.52 per year more in their contributions for main pensions and healthcare, in line with the inflation rate of 2023.

The social security system - a pillar of democratic societies and one of the fundamental rights of their citizens - functions within specific conditions and boundaries.

A pay rise alone is not enough to lure back scientists who emigrated during the financial crisis of the previous decade, according to the majority of participants of a conference on the challenges and opportunities for individuals, society and the economy by the National Documentation Center. 

The social security contributions of 1.2 million freelancers, self-employed and farmers will increase retroactively from the start of the year by 9.6%.