During an interview with ERT today, Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis announced plans to expand performance bonuses and enhance employee evaluations within the public sector.
“We don’t aim to impose penalties,” Hatzidakis remarked on Friday morning, referring to the ongoing discussion about eliminating tenure in the public sector.
He elaborated, “This is a wider issue regarding the effective functioning of the public sector, which is not solely driven by the government or rooted in ideology; it arises from societal needs.”
“Whether we are ministers or civil servants, we all serve society. This should be evident in how the government and public administration operate daily,” he added, drawing parallels to practices in several European nations.
Addressing concerns over the fairness of employee evaluations, the Deputy Prime Minister assured that “specific rules and criteria will guide assessments.”
He also mentioned the planned expansion of performance bonuses and a more thorough evaluation process, particularly in education, linking these changes to constitutional revisions introduced by the Prime Minister.
“We aim to support the middle class”
The Deputy Prime Minister discussed governmental social support initiatives, emphasizing the aim to assist the middle class. He touched upon the critical housing crisis and announced measures to lower costs by increasing housing availability.
“Our primary focus will be on enhancing property supply,” he stated, noting that “further housing initiatives may be revealed at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).”
In addition to offering property owners a 35% reduction in ENFIA (property tax) and favorable policies on inheritance and parental gift taxes, he mentioned that the government is also considering measures for renters and the homeless, referencing ongoing housing programs designed to encourage property owners to make more apartments available.
“Recognizing the significance of this issue, we are implementing a range of policies to address it,” he said, highlighting plans for social housing: “We are working on converting state-owned properties into residential units, such as the CHROPEI complex in Piraeus and the Anatolia site in Nea Ionia.”
As part of this comprehensive strategy, he pointed out a new government initiative: “As announced by the Prime Minister, the state will refund one month’s rent out of the twelve that a tenant pays each year.”
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