copsini kathimerini
New pensioners in limbo. If there is no money, may be they should say so. (Christina Copsini, Kathimerini newspaper
http://bit.ly/piotWd)
Over and over again, we ve been hearing that if the country doesn΄t get the fifth bailout tranche, there will be no money for pensions. The fifth tranche was released, but still, 200.000 new pensioners are not receiving their pensions. At IKA (Greece΄s largest public insurance fund where most private employees are insured) the waiting time spans from 8 months to more than one year. The word "mess" is not nearly close to describing the situation.(...) What is really going on? Are we already bankrupt and just using "lack of employees" as a pretext for withholding pension payments? Are the employees conducting a white strike? Are some people just not working? Is the administration totally unable to deal with everyday issues? (...)There are rumors that the Labour ministry encourages the procrastination, so as not to give money for pensions. If it is so, Mr Minister, just say so. Just say so.