AlHijjah 15, 1433, Oct 31, 2012, SPA -- Greece's government on Wednesday outlined the new austerity measures it intends to take over the next two years, and revised its 2013 budget figures which predict the debt load will increase sharply as the recession deepens into a sixth straight year, AP reported. Unions responded by announcing a rare 48-hour general strike for next week, when the new measures demanded by Greece's international creditors are expected to be voted on in Parliament. The Euro 13.5 billion ($17.5 billion) worth of cutbacks for 2013-14 include a two-year increase in the retirement age - from the current average of 65 - salary and pension cuts and another round of tax increases, including raising taxes for the interest on bank deposits from 10 to 15 percent. The vast majority of the measures, about Euro 9.2 billion, are to be taken in 2013. They include a ?4.6 billion cut in pensions and a Euro 1.17 billion cut from salaries. Healthcare spending will be trimmed a further Euro 455 million. Parliamentary approval of the measures is essential if Greece is to receive the next installment of its bailout loans - this time a hefty Euro 31 billion. Without the funds, the country has said it will run out of money on Nov. 16. Finance ministers from the other 16 countries that use the euro have said they would decide on Nov. 12 whether to give Greece its next batch of bailout loans provided the country agrees to the reforms.
