Referring to the determination of the minimum wage, the minister stated that a first round of dialogue with all national social partners is underway, with the main topic of discussion being how much and how the minimum wage will increase after 2027. As noted by Mrs. Kerameos, the prime minister has already unveiled the road map, until the end of the four-year period, underlining that the minimum wage will reach 950 euros in 2027, which implies an increase of 46% from the 650 euros that was the minimum wage when he took office the governance of the country by the New Democracy.
The Minister of Labor referred to the conclusion of the Scientific Committee, which proposes, after 2027, that a mathematical formula be applied, which will take into account inflation on the one hand and the course of our country’s economy on the other. “It also has to do with the issue of accuracy. We’re hearing, understandably, a lot of concern, we’re hearing thoughts about where prices are going. Efforts are being made on this issue, significant efforts. The formula will take into account how much the prices go up. As prices rise, so will the minimum wage. Also, it will take into account the economy of our country in general”, said Mrs. Kerameos, recalling at the same time that the prime minister has also set a target for the average salary, in order to reach close to 1,500 euros.
Another parameter, on which the Minister of Labor and Social Security was placed, is the steps that have been taken to reduce non-salary costs. “We had, in recent years, a reduction in insurance contributions by 5.5 percentage points. This means more flexibility and a greater possibility to create new jobs. In the last five years, 500,000 new jobs have been created,” he stressed.
Regarding the upcoming increases in pensions, which will be implemented from January 2025, Mrs. Kerameos underlined the systematic efforts of the government, after the very difficult years of the economic crisis, to increase the overall disposable income of citizens and in this case pensioners. As the minister said, cumulatively in the last three years there has been an increase that will exceed 13%. In fact, he pointed out that, from January 1, 2025, there will be an increase of 2.2% to 2.5% horizontally for pensioners, clarifying that the exact amount of the increase depends on the financial data, which will be announced in November, “the which currently appear to be encouraging.”
Regarding the changes promoted by the ministry in the Pensioners’ Solidarity Contribution, Mrs. Kerameos stated that, in the immediate future, there will be legislative intervention, which concerns pensioners who receive more than 1,400 euros and are obliged to pay the contribution. The distortion, as described by the minister, which is being rectified, is found in the fact that, due to the horizontal increase given to pensions, some pensioners change scale, which implies a higher Solidarity Contribution rate, as a result, instead of seeing an increase in pension, to observe a decrease. He also announced that this specific arrangement will be implemented before Christmas, with the payment of the January pensions, which are paid in advance in December. He also mentioned that, at the same time, the personal difference allowance, announced by the prime minister, will be paid to pensioners who have a personal difference and receive a sum of pensions of up to 1,600 euros.
Regarding unemployment, Mrs. Kerameos emphasized that, for the first time in the last 15 years, it has fallen to a single digit number and, specifically, to 9% and announced targeted actions, which will focus on young people, women, people with disabilities and pensioners, where a significant amount of valuable untapped human potential is found. He even mentioned as an example of these targeted actions the “Career Days” of the Public Employment Service (DYPA), which take place in Peristeri, where thousands of citizens looking for work come into contact with hundreds of companies looking for staff, with the ministry operating as a “bridge” in this effort.
“About 200 companies, today as we speak, at the Exhibition Center in Peristeri offer jobs and, at the same time, yesterday, when the “Career Days” started, thousands of our fellow citizens passed through the gates of the Exhibition Center, looking for work,” added the minister.
He added that from the “Career Days”, which are organized annually, more than 7,500 interested people have found a job, pointing out that this action will be extended in the coming days also abroad, starting from Amsterdam at the end of November. “We have valuable human resources, so many brilliant minds, who want to return, but have not found the right professional opportunity, and again the Ministry of Labor is coming, to bring together workers and businesses” emphasized Mrs. Kerameos.
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