The parliament received the first set of bills yesterday aimed at implementing the second package of demographic recovery measures, which were announced by the President in early November. The legislation is expected to be approved before parliament’s holiday recess and the year’s end.
The bills focus on increasing childbirth benefits – with retroactive effect from October 1 – and expanding parental leave. They are scheduled for formal submission during tomorrow’s plenary session.
Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou announced the advancement of these initial demographic recovery bills following his appearance at yesterday’s ad hoc Parliamentary Committee on Demographics.
“The country’s demographic recovery is a national priority, and the ad hoc parliamentary committee discussed the policy framework approved by the Council of Ministers and announced by the President”, Panayiotou said.
He explained that he detailed the measures included in the policy framework and “presented the schedule according to which the bills for the first two measures are expected to be submitted to parliament today [yesterday], concerning the increase in childbirth allowance and the expansion of both eligibility and duration of parental leave on a graduated basis”.
The childbirth benefit bill proposes an increase from €628.92 to €1,000 for the first child, €1,500 for the second child, and €2,000 for the third and subsequent children.
Both the amendatory bill for childbirth benefits and the parental leave legislation are expected to be prioritised by parliament’s Labour Committee, with discussions potentially beginning as early as next week.
Additional legislative arrangements will be required for other initiatives included in the second demographic package, which will be implemented gradually.
Some measures, such as the €200 monthly support for two years for mothers who have their first child before age 30, will not commence until September 2025.
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