Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday reiterated that his government’s pledge to raise the minimum monthly wage to 950 euros by the end of its four-year term (2027) remains unchanged.
He made the comment in fielding press questions during a visit to the labor and social insurances ministry.
Mitsotakis further cited a need to improve the participation of women, young people and individuals with special needs in the labor market, as well as pensioners. In terms of the latter, Mitsotakis expressed satisfaction over a government reform that allows retirees to continue working without taking a cut from their pension. He said this measure has been a spectacular success.
At the same time, Mitsotakis focused on the implementation of a “digital work card”, aimed to record, and consequently pay actual time worked by a wage-earner.
In response to other press questions, he said an “extraordinary benefit” will again be doled out this year to pensioners who have not been allotted an increase due to a so-called “personal difference” in the level of monthly payments.
He said this latest welfare benefit will be funded from a windfall tax on record profits posted by the two refinery groups in the country for 2023.
“This is a social justice measure, being of a one-off nature for taxing refineries; it’s a measure that fully supports social cohesion and proves the government’s commitment, in practice, to stand by our weakest fellow citizens.”
Raising the minimum monthly wage in the country was a pre-election pledge by the conservative New Democracy (ND), the current ruling party, before the last general election in June 2023.
