Legislation is coming to the Greek Parliament in the immediate future that will prevent cuts to survivor pensions. Speaking from the floor of Parliament, Labor Minister Niki Kerameos announced that the legislative provision will permanently abolish the reduction of survivor pensions after the three-year period stipulated in the Katrougalos Law, for all pensioners who began receiving a survivor pension after that law was enacted. In addition, all survivor pensioners covered under the Katrougalos Law — for whom the cut has not yet been applied — will be exempt from any obligation to repay backdated amounts. At the same time, the legislation provides that the payment of two national pensions will continue normally in cases such as survivor pensions, where the accumulation of two national pensions arises from distinct, separate entitlements.
According to the Labor Minister, “this means that all survivor pension beneficiaries covered under the current framework of the Katrougalos Law will continue to receive 70% of the deceased’s pension even after the three-year period has elapsed — without any reduction to 35%. They will owe not a single euro in back payments, and in cases of accumulation, they will continue to receive two national pensions. Those who had already had their pension reduced under the Katrougalos Law will see their pension restored to 70%, while those who were anxious that their survivor pension would be cut in the near future can rest assured — it will not be cut at all. It will remain at 70%.”
The Minister also reminded Parliament that the outperformance achieved by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security last year — exceeding medium-term fiscal targets by approximately €800 million — made it possible to direct a significant portion of the resulting dividend toward a major reduction in tax rates from January 1, 2026, and to the abolition of the personal pension difference, a long-standing demand from pensioners.
“This year, based on our monitoring of insurance fund revenue trends for the period January through April 2026, it is clear that in just the first four months we have already exceeded the medium-term target by €517 million — thanks primarily to the bold implementation of the digital work card across more than 2.5 million employees. These results allow us today to proceed with yet another significant social intervention,” the Labor Minister stated. She added that “this measure definitively closes a long-standing issue that has remained unresolved for many years. Thousands of survivor pension beneficiaries are freed from a climate of uncertainty and uncertainty, legal certainty is restored, and protection is strengthened for families who have lost a loved one. And all of this is being achieved without disrupting the fiscal balance of the pension system, because it is the fruit of growth, increased legal employment, and the more effective operation of our insurance system.”
Kerameos: 10 plain truths about the bill to eliminate the gender pay gap
Ten “simple acknowledgments and concrete truths” about the equal pay bill — which aims to eliminate the gender pay gap by ensuring men and women receive equal pay for equal work — were presented by Labor and Social Security Minister Niki Kerameos during a plenary session of Parliament.
Minister Kerameos emphasized that this particular bill is not merely a formal transposition of a European Directive, but rather “concerns the way in which we understand justice in the workplace, transparency in the labor market, meritocracy, and respect for every worker — regardless of gender.”
“First truth: Greece has made significant progress in the labor market — including on the pay gap — but it has not yet been fully eliminated”
As the Minister pointed out, “in recent years, unemployment has dropped dramatically. Since 2019, more than 563,000 new jobs have been created. Unemployment fell to 8.1% in May 2026 — the lowest level in 17 years — down from 17.8% in July 2019, representing a reduction of 54.5%. At the same time, we have recorded a 25-year high in the net flow of salaried employment in the first five months of 2026: 332,843 new jobs. The minimum wage has increased by 41.5%, while the average wage has exceeded €1,500. Investment is growing, businesses are operating in an environment of greater stability, and employment is at historically high levels.” She added, however, that “this progress does not allow us to be complacent. On the contrary, it demands that we confront the weaknesses that still exist. The gender pay gap has narrowed, but it has not been eliminated. In our country, women are still paid on average 13.4% less than men, while the equivalent figure across Europe is approximately 11%.”
“Second truth: This bill does not reinvent pay equality as something new”
Minister Kerameos noted that the principle of equal pay is not being established for the first time — it is already enshrined in the Constitution, in Greek labor law, and in the European acquis.
“If the mere existence of this legal principle were sufficient, however, we would not be discussing a gender pay gap today. The problem, therefore, is not the absence of the principle, but rather its effective application, oversight, and enforcement — based on objective, measurable criteria. And that is precisely what this bill is designed to address. With it, we are introducing practical implementation tools: pay transparency mechanisms, clearer wage structures, information obligations, the right to pay information, audit procedures, corrective measures, and enhanced protection for workers when discrimination occurs.”
“Third truth: The bill introduces transparency and the right to information”
The Minister noted that “from now on, a prospective employee will know in advance the pay or salary range for the position they are being hired into. Workers will have a clear right to be informed about average pay levels by gender in equivalent roles. And this information gives them power. Because until now, without this information, genuine rights protection has been impossible. Furthermore, job advertisements and recruitment processes must be gender-neutral and free from other forms of discrimination. Transparency is therefore provided both before and during the employment relationship. Businesses are required to have and apply pay structures that guarantee the implementation of the equal pay principle, based on objective and gender-neutral criteria. These criteria include skills, effort, responsibility, working conditions, and any other factor relevant to the specific job or position. These are just some of the obligations and rights established by this bill, all of which strengthen transparency and access to information so that gender plays no role in determining a worker’s pay.”
“Fourth truth: Enforcement mechanisms ensure compliance”
Minister Kerameos stressed that “it is not possible to ensure that the law is upheld without oversight mechanisms and procedures. Because it is not enough for the state to recognize a right — it must also provide the means to protect it. That is why we are strengthening judicial protection, the role of the Ombudsman, and the role of the Labor Inspectorate. We are making it mandatory to audit unjustified pay disparities, introducing corrective interventions, and reinforcing protections, inspections, and compensation and penalty enforcement mechanisms — in order to make equality a reality.”
“Fifth truth: The bill promotes meritocracy and prevents blanket wage leveling”
The Minister made clear that the discussion about equal pay does not mean all workers must be paid exactly the same. “That is not the case. Fair pay does not mean leveling everyone’s wages. The economy, businesses, and the very concept of meritocracy are built on recognizing differences in experience, skills, responsibility, and performance. An employee with more years of experience is justifiably paid more. An employee with specialized knowledge can certainly earn a higher salary. An employee who takes on greater responsibilities or achieves better results may be paid differently. What cannot be accepted is a pay difference where the only difference is gender.” She added that the bill ensures pay differences will be based on objective criteria, not stereotypes or prejudices. “The message is simple: every worker’s pay must be determined by their work, their contribution, and their value — not by their gender.”
“Sixth truth: The bill strengthens collective bargaining agreements”
As Minister Kerameos underlined, “our country has already taken an important step with the National Social Agreement to strengthen Collective Labor Agreements. We are already seeing new collective agreements in key sectors of the economy. This bill makes use of collective agreements as a tool for preventing pay discrimination. It provides that where a Collective Labor Agreement is in place, it is presumed that no unjustified pay discrimination exists. Transparency and collective bargaining are therefore complementary objectives.”
“Seventh truth: The bill protects not only women, but equality in the workplace as a whole”
The Minister clarified that this bill “protects women from pay discrimination, as well as mothers, adoptive mothers, and workers on leave. But it also protects working fathers from unfavorable treatment due to paternity or care leave, workers with disabilities through accessible information obligations, and workers in remote areas through the possibility of remote participation in labor dispute proceedings. Equality is not a matter of one gender. It is a matter of justice for all.”
“Eighth truth: The bill is the product of dialogue”
Minister Kerameos revealed that during the legislative drafting process and the public consultation, nearly 100 observations and proposals from stakeholders were incorporated.
“I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the drafting committee, its chair Professor Patrina Paparrigopoulou, the committee members, the Secretary General for Labor Relations Nikos Milapidis, the social partners, and all those who made a substantive contribution to shaping the final text. This bill is workable and implementable precisely because it is the product of convergence and a synthesis of views.”
“Ninth truth: Pay equality is a matter of justice — and a matter of growth”
The Minister emphasized that an economy that fully harnesses the talent, skills, and potential of all its citizens is more competitive.
“A labor market that operates with transparency attracts investment. A society that reduces discrimination generates more prosperity. Inequality is an obstacle to growth — equality, justice, and transparency are prerequisites for sustainability, both in the labor sector and in business more broadly. For one additional reason: while the worker is not left unprotected, businesses are also not exposed to uncontrolled or abusive claims. Healthy entrepreneurship, stable employment relationships, and predictability in the professional environment are all promoted.”
“Tenth truth: The bill delivers a historic act of redress”
Minister Kerameos made special reference to “yet another important social justice intervention,” as she described it: the inclusion of nurses, nursing assistants, ambulance drivers, and ambulance paramedics serving in the National Health System and EKAV (National Emergency Aid Center) who are covered under the public sector insurance regime in the classification of arduous and unhealthy occupations.
“There was the following distortion: nurses in the private sector were classified under arduous and unhealthy occupations. Their counterparts in the public sector were not. This distortion — which has persisted for more than 30 years — is what we are now correcting with this provision,” she stated.
It is recalled that this measure:
• Aligns retirement conditions with those applicable to equivalent specializations in the private sector.
• Provides the possibility of recognizing previous periods of employment.
• Establishes clear and fair rules for the future.
• And above all, restores a sense of justice.
“According to the World Economic Forum, if we continue on our current trajectory, it will take 123 years globally to achieve full pay equality between men and women worldwide. For our country, the question is simple. Do we want a labor market where pay is determined by the value of the work — or one where stereotypes and injustices continue to survive? Do we want greater transparency and better tools to protect workers? Do we want Greece to be at the forefront of European developments?” Minister Kerameos asked.
“The Government’s answer is clear. We choose transparency, meritocracy, and equal treatment. We choose to give real substance to the principle of ‘equal pay for equal work or work of equal value.'”
The survivor pension reform
In closing, Minister Kerameos announced from the floor of Parliament that in the very near future she will bring legislative initiatives to the Greek Parliament that will:
• Permanently abolish the reduction of survivor pensions after the three-year period stipulated in the Katrougalos Law, for all pensioners who began receiving a survivor pension after that law was enacted.
• Exempt from any obligation to repay backdated amounts all survivor pensioners covered under the Katrougalos Law for whom the cut has not yet been applied.
• Provide that the payment of two national pensions will continue normally in cases such as survivor pensions, where the accumulation of two national pensions arises from distinct, separate entitlements.
As the Minister clarified, “this means that all survivor pension beneficiaries covered under the current framework of the Katrougalos Law will continue to receive 70% of the deceased’s pension even after the three-year period has elapsed — without any reduction to 35%. They will owe not a single euro in back payments, and in cases of accumulation, they will continue to receive two national pensions. Those who had already had their pension reduced under the Katrougalos Law will see their pension restored to 70%, while those who were anxious that their survivor pension would be cut in the near future can rest assured — it will not be cut at all. It will remain at 70%.”
Minister Kerameos recalled that the outperformance achieved by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security last year — exceeding medium-term fiscal targets by approximately €800 million — made it possible to direct a significant portion of the resulting dividend toward a major reduction in tax rates from January 1, 2026, and to the abolition of the personal pension difference for pensioners, a long-standing demand.
“This year, based on our monitoring of insurance fund revenue trends for the period January through April 2026, it is clear that in just the first four months we have already exceeded the medium-term target by €517 million — thanks primarily to the bold implementation of the digital work card across more than 2.5 million employees. These results allow us today to proceed with yet another significant social intervention,” the Minister stated, adding that “this measure definitively closes a long-standing issue that has remained unresolved for many years. Thousands of survivor pension beneficiaries are freed from a climate of uncertainty and anxiety, legal certainty is restored, and protection is strengthened for families who have lost a loved one. And all of this is being achieved without disrupting the fiscal balance of the pension system, because it is the fruit of growth, increased legal employment, and the more effective operation of our insurance system.”
Closing her address, Minister Kerameos emphasized that this “is yet another Government intervention that restores social justice, reinforces legal certainty, and definitively resolves an issue that has caused hardship to thousands of families for years.”
