Statement by Andreas Fakontis, AKEL MP and President of the Parliamentary Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance Committee on the granting of increases in the allowance for pensioners on the lowest pension
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 22nd December 2020, Nicosia
Better late than never! The Anastasiades government, immediately after the government’s 2021 state budget was rejected by Parliament, overnight implemented the belated decision taken in 2019 to grant increases in the allowance for pensioners on low income. A decision for which there was already the required fund (€ 19m) incorporated in the 2020 budget, but the government ruling forces decided to pay the increases just shortly before the end of the year. In fact, stressing with an statement issued by the Minister of Labor herself, that this was done “on the President’s instructions and in consultation with the president of DISY, but also with other political forces.” And all of a sudden certain parties are claiming the “paternity” of the decision to increase the allowance for pensioners on the lowest pension.
AKEL has always and far from serving any expediencies or behind the door dealings is struggling for the adoption of the just demand of the elderly so that no pensioner should have to live on an income below the poverty line. That is precisely why, despite the delay, despite all the efforts of the government and political forces to exploit the issue for communication purposes, as AKEL we welcome the relevant decision.
We underline, however, that we are not complacent! AKEL will continue to assert and struggle for:
- Review of the pension scheme and for an increase in low pensions for pensioners to enjoy dignified living standards
- Abolition of the 12% charge for those who choose to retire at the age of 63.
- Examination of the applications of pensioners on low pensions who lost their allowance in 2014 and from 2018, with the amendment of the legislation following a draft bill tabled by AKEL, submitting an application for the restoration of the allowance for pensioners on the lowest pension.
