Party leaders want to cut 3% off public sector 13th salary

PARTY LEADERS agreed on Thursday to look into whether it was feasible to cut 3.0 per cent off the public sector workers’ 13th salaries and give the savings to needy families.

According to the proposal tabled by House President Yiannakis Omirou, all money collected by this one-time salary cut will be given as Christmas aid to vulnerable groups.

The study should be completed within 15 days, EVROKO leader Demetris Syllouris said.

If feasible, parliament will then draft a bill to be discussed by the plenum.

Greens party MP Giorgos Perdikis estimates that five to six million euros will be collected.

Perdikis said the money should be given to large and single-parent families.

“It’s about time we went from talk to action”, he said, expressing his satisfaction with the proposed cut.

Syllouris went a step further, proposing that the study be broadened to include the possibility of a ceiling on public sector wages.

“It’s time for those with high wages to pay for the needy”, he added.

Wages in the public sector have been cut by up to 12.5 per cent as staggered cuts were imposed as part of austerity measures to shore up the economy. An additional 3 per cent flat reduction will also kick in on January 1.

 

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