Despite the coalition government’s optimism in securing a deal with the troika by Sunday evening, the two sides decided to meet again today at noon, after a 14-hour marathon session at the Ministry of Finances, which also saw the Ministers of Labor Yannis Vroutsis, Growth Kostis Hatzidakis and Administrative Reform Kyriakos Mitsotakis participate.
According to an unnamed high-ranking Finance Ministry officer there are about “four or five issues” that still remain unresolved, but even if negotiations are not completed today, they will over “the next few days”. At present the two sides are unable to agree on collective redundancies in the private sector, public sector dismissals for 2015, implementing the OECD’s recommendations and the primary surplus (exact amount and distribution).
Regarding employment matters, the government is refusing to agree on the deregulation of collective redundancies, although it appears to have come to an agreement for the reduction of insurance contributions. Similarly a deal for incentives for the long-term unemployed is being developed.
As for the Ministry of Administrative Reform, the government insists that it will not carry out any across the board wage cuts, but it will “rationalize” (ie, reduce) the various bonuses and benefits in the public sector.
Finally, little progress was made with matters related to the Ministry of Growth, with no agreement in sight for the deregulation of the sale of milk and non-prescription medication, among others. The troika however has accepted the Greek proposal on commercial leases, which was recently voted in Parliament.
