Georgios Katrougalos

Labor Minister George Katrougalos told CNN Greece that the government’s goal is to implement uniform rules that would apply for all pensioners.

Asked if pensions over 1,000 euros will be reduced, Katrougalos said that the government’s aim is not to reduce pensions, but to create a viable social security system.

European Commission President Valdis Dombrovskis met with Labor Minister George Katrougalos on Tuesday. Their meeting touched on various issues concerning income, pension rates as well as migration. At the end, Dombrovskis made a statement:

Honourable Minister Katrougalos, Honourable media representatives,

European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told Greek government’s top finance ministers that Greece “has no time to lose” in carrying out reforms that international creditors have demanded in exchange for bailout funds. Visiting Athens, he said that action needs to be taken immediately so that reforms can bring growth.

The Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis will visit Athens on October 27-28 and have a series of meetings.

According to the program announced by European Commission Representation in Greece, Mr. Dombrovskis will meet with Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis on Monday, at 09:30 and with Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, at 10:30.

Labour Minister Giorgos Katrougalos announced that the final bill will be submitted to the Parliament in November leaving open the possibility of imposing taxes on great wealth and new contributions to business activities to raise money for the insurance funds.

The government is trying to show that Greece’s labour reforms is European and any changes will not just concern the country, Labour Minister Giorgos Katrougalos told Praktorio FM radio shortly after a meeting in Geneva with the head of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Guy Ryder,

Labour Minister George Katrougalos spoke to plenary session on the government’s policy statements and said that there will be no horizontal cuts to pensions.

Main opposition New Democracy on Wednesday took straight aim at a law passed by the leftist SYRIZA government that allows rogue civil servants and professionals employed in the narrow or wider public to return to their posts while their cases are before the courts or disciplinary boards.

Labor Minister George Katrougalos returned to his old post after 27 days of absence with renewed zeal in efforts to find a solution to the cash-strapped social security funds. No sooner did he receive his portfolio on Wednesday that he hinted that new cuts to the already butchered main and auxiliary pensions are inevitable.

Greek newspaper Efimerida ton Syntakton reports that Greece is entering the Dark Ages as far as pensions are concerned. The committee former Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) labor minister George Katrougalos set up is now perusing plans for pension caps no larger than 500-600 euros per month.