Labour, Social Insurance & Welfare Minister Yiannis Vroutsis told “Paraskinio” daily newspaper today that the “payment of pensions is absolutely guaranteed and there will be no changes in the retirement age.”

The minister also left open the possibility a new favorable settlement for debts to social insurance funds to relieve businessmen of previously robust businesses that incurred debts directly as a result of the economic crisis.

He also announced the gradual implementation of new programs to boost employment until the end of September for roughly 100,000 unemployed people of all ages.