Public: ‘permanent mechanism’ of increases and not even ‘stage’ returns of gifts

Only a permanent mechanism to increase public wages through the equalisation of import wages with the minimum wage in and not to restore the 13th and 14th salaries to the State – not even “graduate” – provides for the government programme. The draft budget for 2025, which was submitted yesterday (7.10.2024) to the House includes the announcement of the Prime Minister from the ICU step (7.9.2024) on equalising admission wages to the minimum wage in the private sector. In particular, it says that “as of April 2025 there will be a new increase in the basic salaries of all civil servants, so that the import salary to the State will not fall below the level of the private sector’s minimum wage. The gross cost of the new intervention for 2025 is initially estimated at around EUR 143 million. However, it is noted that the final cost depends on the final increase in the minimum wage.” Circles of HYNIK reported to newssit.gr that this is a “permanent mechanism of wage increases” in the State, which will not only run out in 2025, not even until 2027. The same circles said that “there is no possibility of restoring the 13th and 14th wages”, as there is no financial margin”. This response also concerns the possibility of a ‘streak re-establishment’ of the 13th and 14th salaries, which has fallen to the table on behalf of trade unions of civil servants. On the other hand, the same circles in ADEDY, and even high-ranking public bodies officials admit to newssit.gr that the equalisation of admission wages in public and minimum wages in the private sector since April 2025 is “some” as it does not concern the 13th and 14th wages. This is because the minimum wage in the private sector on a 12-month basis (i.e. considering both the 13th and 14th wages) will remain at a much higher level even after its equation with the introductory. For example, in April 2025, the gross minimum wage was raised to EUR 870 out of the EUR 830 that it is today and with it was carried the import salary to the State from EUR 850 to EUR 870. On a 12-month basis, the gross minimum wage will be EUR 1,015 (870 EUR) X 14 months: 12 months), while the import salary will be EUR 870. In other words, the gross minimum wage on a 12-month basis will be EUR 145 or 16.6% higher than the gross import salary.