NEWS

Stratoulis on Christmas bonus

Stratoulis on Christmas bonus

Government's commitment to give the Christmas bonus to 1,262,920 pensioners will be applied, said Alternate Insurance Minister Dimitris Stratoulis adding that the regulation is ready and its cost is exactly 545 million euros, speaking on Saturday to MEGA private TV.

He noted that the specific regulation is not included in the draft laws that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced on Friday and will be tabled in parliament next week, because, as he said, it refers to an expense that will take place in December 2015 and there were other issues that should be promoted, as the measures for the humanitarian crisis.

Asked if the regulation will be voted within the next four months, he said that it does not matter if it will be voted in the next four months or in June; it is a benefit that will be offered in December.

He ruled out the possibility of cutbacks on supplementary pensions and announced that 'the retirement age limits will not be increased'.

On the financial gap, Stratoulis appeared totally reassuring and stated that "there is no reason for concern, because the government has "proposals and solutions" and referred to the regulations that Tsipras announced and that will be tabled in parliament next week.