According to a decree-law published on Tuesday that comes into effect on Wednesday, early retirement by civil servants is possible following an agreement between the employer and employee and depending on prior authorisation by the members of the government in charge of finances and public administration.

The legislation, which was promulgated by the president on 29 January, lays down the rules on the amount of pension to be attributed to retiring civil servants in which circumstances.

Civil servants who take early retirement are assured that their benefits are to be updated yearly by a percentage corresponding to the pay increase that the pensioner would have received if they had continued in service.