The government aims to present its pension reform bill to social partners during the second half of July to begin what Labour and Social Insurance Minister Marinos Mousiouttas described as "substantive and continuous" discussions ahead of its planned submission to parliament in September.
Speaking before a meeting with the board of the Nicosia Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry headquarters, Mousiouttas said consultations would continue throughout the summer.
"Our goal is to submit the bill to parliament in September," he said, adding that the two-and-a-half months before then should be used to identify areas of agreement wherever possible.
Ongoing talks
Mousiouttas said the decision to postpone the bill's submission from July to September was intended to allow more time for dialogue with social partners rather than delay the reform process.
He expressed hope that an agreement could be reached before September but said the government would proceed with the legislation even if discussions were not fully concluded, with negotiations continuing during the parliamentary process.
Asked whether the summer holiday period would limit discussions, Mousiouttas said there was sufficient time to continue negotiations, including through informal working meetings if necessary.
"There is enough time, provided everyone recognises the need to move forward as quickly as possible," he said, adding that the consultation process "cannot continue indefinitely".
The minister also confirmed that discussions cover both the first pillar of the pension system, the Social Insurance Fund, and the second pillar, the provident funds.
He said social partners wanted decisions on the second pillar to be taken alongside progress on reforms to the first pillar. While priority would be given to finalising the first pillar, discussions on the second would continue in parallel and could also be advanced if circumstances allowed.
Technical committee meetings on the second pillar are continuing at regular intervals, he added.
Source: CNA
