The beneficiaries of the new measures, which were announced by the Prime Minister at the TIF and will roll out from now until the end of 2025, will be presented today by the Minister of National Economy and Finance. These measures, worth approximately €1.4 billion, include permanent wage increases in both the public and private sectors, targeted increases in allowances, one-time payments to pensioners, tax relief for freelancers, and other interventions.

Additionally, the Resilience Fee imposed on hotel and Airbnb stays will increase from the current €0.50-€4 per day to €2-€8 per day, according to sources.

Permanent Increases in 2025

• Private Sector Workers: In 2025, social security contributions will be reduced by two percentage points, doubling the originally planned reduction. This will boost wages as deductions from salaries will decrease, benefiting both employees (with more take-home pay) and employers (who will pay less in contributions). Workers earning minimum wage will receive another increase in April, and thanks to lower deductions, more of this increase will reflect in their net pay.
• Public Sector Workers: Salaries in the public sector will rise alongside those in the private sector. Starting in spring 2025, nearly 700,000 public employees will see annual wage increases that could reach up to €100 per month.
• Uniformed Officers: Night shift compensation for the Armed Forces, Coast Guard, Police, and Fire Department will increase by 20%.
• ESY Doctors: The tax on on-call pay for ESY doctors will drop to 22% from 44%, equating to an average monthly increase of €130. Additionally, an incentive of up to €7,200 annually will be offered to doctors willing to work in remote health facilities.
• Pensioners: A new pension increase of 2.2%-2.5% is expected in early 2025.
• Vulnerable Groups and Families with Three Children: Targeted increases in family and other allowances will come in 2025, while benefits for families with three children will align more closely with those of larger families.

One-Time Allowances in 2023

1. “Personal Difference” Allowance: Near Christmas, thousands of pensioners with a “personal difference” (a calculation method that results in no pension increase) and vulnerable households will receive a special one-time payment of €200, funded by the tax on windfall profits from refineries. Approximately 670,000 pensioners with total pensions up to €1,600 will receive:
   • €200 for pensions up to €700
   • €150 for pensions up to €1,100
   • €100 for pensions up to €1,600.
2. Social Voucher: A special allowance will also be given to vulnerable households near Christmas. Specifically:
   • All child benefit recipients (767,000 households) will receive an additional monthly payment.
   • €200 will be provided to those receiving disability benefits (220,000 recipients).
   • A 50% increase in December’s Guaranteed Minimum Income for 205,000 recipients.

Freelancers

The government will fully abolish the Business Tax for freelancers starting in 2025, resulting in an annual tax saving of €325. Additionally, new favorable tax rules will apply to freelancers in small communities, with a 50% reduction in taxable income for those residing in areas with up to 1,500 inhabitants.

Farmers

• A new system for managing “red loans” (bad debts) for farmers and cooperatives will be established, offering debt reductions and refinancing options.
• The refund of the Special Consumption Tax on agricultural fuel, which had been canceled by the SYRIZA government, will be reinstated permanently from 2025 onwards.
• Land Programs for farmers will be launched, allowing the use of inactive public lands for large-scale greenhouse farming, focused on high-value export agricultural products, benefiting both the agricultural economy and local communities.