Pay Raises for Military Personnel: Announcements Today – Government Focus on Income Boost and Defense

Improving everyday life by enhancing the disposable income of public and private employees, increasing employment, along with strengthening defense and strategic alliances, are the priorities of the government as it moves into the second half of its term. Following the minimum wage increase, the fifth since 2019, today the government announces the new salary structure and rank system for the Armed Forces. “In agreement with the Ministry of Finance, we will be able to provide significant raises to our military personnel, largely funded by savings made by the Ministry of National Defense itself within the framework of the new force structure,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated from Paris yesterday. “It’s not enough to just buy the most modern weapons and give our Armed Forces access to the latest technology. We must ensure that Armed Forces personnel are adequately compensated so that we can attract new recruits. Clearly, a complete overhaul of the pay scale and rank system moves precisely in this direction,” the prime minister added. The relevant announcements will be made today by Defense Minister Nikos Dendias. According to government sources, the raises for military personnel will go beyond the announced danger allowance and an additional €30 per month due to the minimum wage increase announced on Wednesday, effective April 1st. Meanwhile, next week in Parliament, the government will present its plan for the country’s new equipment program, which gains added importance amid major geopolitical changes occurring not only in our region but also at the European and international levels. At the same time, the Maximos Mansion, with the political stability at stake, commits to utilizing every available resource for actions leading to improved living standards without jeopardizing financial stability. “Our main agenda ‘more and better jobs, support for disposable income, nominal wage increases, reduced tax burden’ is being implemented across all aspects of our policy,” the prime minister stated at the last Cabinet meeting, marking the government’s political stance, which, he said, “rests first and foremost on fiscal responsibility” to achieve other key priorities such as better healthcare, more modern education, and a more efficient and digital state.