Communist Party of Greece lawmakers submitted an amendment in parliament to restore 13th and 14th monthly salaries and pensions for public workers and retirees.
The parliamentary amendment was introduced into a Ministry of Labor draft bill entitled Strengthening of Occupational Insurance, following a recent decision on the matter by the Council of State.
Under the proposed legislation, all public sector employees and retirees across all primary and auxiliary insurance funds would receive reinstated holiday and vacation allowances.
The amendment specifies a Christmas holiday bonus equal to a full monthly salary for employees and a full monthly pension for retirees. It also mandates an Easter holiday bonus and a summer vacation bonus, each set at half of the monthly salary or pension.
Objections to austerity rulings
In an explanatory report attached to the measure, party officials said previous bailout memorandums abolished public sector bonuses under the justification of fiscal limits. The party argued that governments consistently invoke fiscal constraints against working class rights while granting privileges to capital.
The party criticized the Council of State for using European Union legislation and fiscal arguments to reject worker demands for bonus restoration, claiming the court decision confirmed that state institutions and EU authorities share anti-popular policies.
Party representatives stated that KKE consistently supports public workers and retirees in their push for full bonus reinstatement, which prompted the re-submission of the legislative measure.
Bailout cuts and bonus history
The Communist Party of Greece, known as KKE, is the oldest political party in modern Greece and maintains representation in the Hellenic Parliament. The Council of State serves as the supreme administrative court of Greece, ruling on constitutional and legal challenges regarding government decisions.
Annual 13th and 14th monthly payments were historically distributed in Greece as Christmas, Easter, and summer leave bonuses before being slashed and eliminated for civil servants and pensioners during international bailout agreements following the 2010 financial crisis.
The proposed amendment will be considered by lawmakers as Parliament debates the broader Ministry of Labor legislation.
