Senate passes pension and sick leave reforms

The government’s overhaul of the country’s public services took another step forward on Thursday, when the Senate approved key pension and health insurance reforms. The pension bill will raise the age of retirement to 65 years for men and women by 2030, from around 62 and 59 now. It will also extend the minimum required working period to 35 years, from 25. The health insurance bill is aimed at cutting one of Europe’s highest absentee rates by drastically cutting sick pay for the first three days of illness.