Lump sum

The payment of retirement lump sums to some 7,500 teachers who received their main pension in the previous period started on Friday and is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Over 50% of supplementary pension applications that had been pending for years have been issued within the past two months, while the remaining almost 50% of pensioners still waiting are expected to receive their pension advance by the middle of next week, with an extraordinary lump-sum payment from the Single Social Security Entity (EFKA). 

Some 1.5 million self-employed professionals, freelancers and farmers have until January 31 to choose their social security contribution category, ranging from 210 to 566 euros per month, for payments toward their pension and healthcare.

The Labor Ministry is seeking ways to accelerate the processing of pending retirement lump sum applications, as despite assurances that the number of outstanding cases is coming down, reality suggests that there may be more than 200,000 retirees still waiting.

The large pension cuts imposed by the law drafted by former labor minister Giorgos Katrougalos, combined with the reduction in applications, have reduced the backlog of retirement lump sums, thereby bringing down the overdue arrears of the ETEAEP auxiliary fund by 35 percent.

Theano Fotiou, who served as deputy Minister for Employment and Social Solidarity under the left government SYRIZA received a lump sum of 70,000 Euros before leaving her ministerial post and while the capital controls were in effect for the rest of the Greeks.

By Prokopis Hatzinikolaou

The Finance Ministry has decided to put the deadline for applications to participate in the payment program for debts to the state back by one month even before the scheme has been activated.

By Prokopis Hatzinikolaou

BELGRADE - All lawyers in Serbia will on Wednesday go on strike until the end of the week in protest against a lump sum tax increase.