“We’ll take the 70 million he owes to IKA…”

The Labor ministry is taking a different approach from that of the ministry of Finance regarding the Raptopoulos case, and will claim every last cent of the major IKA debtor’s debts, which last year alone amounted to 150 mil euros, while today, and after numerous regulations. it has “dropped” to 70-80 mil.

In a meeting at the Ministry of Labour on Monday, the deputy minister Giorgos Koutroumanis and the governor of IKA Rovertos Spyropoulos, said the initiatives of Papakontantinou only applied to the financial transactions between Express Service and the State and not to the pension funds. They added: "we know nothing about a netting. We will send him a letter, since we are going to begin by asking for the dues of all the major debtors".

The leadership of the Labour ministry and the heads of employers' organizations have sent out an SOS regarding the funds, asking the businessmen to take part in the favorable settlement of debts. Otherwise they will proceed with taking coercive measures, which will include the shutting down of several businesses...

The regulation requires a timely payment of the current tax contributions and 20% of older debts in small installments.

Raptopoulos’ group owes 10 bil euros to the funds

The debts today amount to 10 billion (6 to IKA, 4 to OAEE), while the recessionary conditions create an explosive atmosphere.

According to the INE of GSEE, the recession cost 3.5 billion to the funds because of the 750,000 unemployed. This amount includes the losses from the 20% reduction of the workers' income.

The government is concerned about the shortfall of revenue funds and though the settlement of debts and the purchase of notional years, is making desperate attempts to channel fresh money into the insurance organizations.