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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-01-18
CONTENTS
[01] IMF demands mandatory dismissals in public sector
[01] IMF demands mandatory dismissals in public sector
AMNA -- The International Monetary Fund is openly demanding for targetted
dismissals in the public sector and further cuts in social benefits (such
as unemployment benefit, supplementary pension, child benefits, etc),
but at the same the IMF emphatically demands a fundamental tackling
of tax evasion warning that instead there will be new cuts in wages
and pensions.
In its report on the Greek economy, published on Friday, the IMF also
asks for extending a solidarity tax surcharge beyond 2014, accelerating
a privatization program –even with replacing the management of Hellenic
Republic Asset Development Fund with foreign managers if the fund failed
to achieve its targets for the first half of 2013.amna
The IMF sounded pessimistic over unemployment trends –expected to rise
to 24.4 pct in 2013 and to 25.1 pct in 2014, while it also insisted on
its position for a new haircut of the Greek debt held by the official
sector in Europe.amna
At the same time, the IMF openly tangles in the Greek political scene,
suggesting that increasing support for SYRIZA and other counter-memorandum
parties could lead not only to delays in implementing the program
but a political crisis in the country, triggering a default and/or an
exit from the euro. The Washington-based fund, however, is making some
self-criticism, saying that another risk for the program was a failure
in meeting its analysts' calculations over the impact of austerity in
economic recession in the country.
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