President Nicos Anastasiades on Sunday listed a number of governmental policies and strategies as well as decisions that were of the favor of the laborers, as he addressed an event organized by trade union SEK, for Labor Day at the village of Amiantos. During the event the President unveiled a monument set up to honor the mineworkers.
In his detailed address, the President said that the protection of the employees’ rights was a priority when he assumed duties adding that during the pandemic the government took decisions to protect the jobs with a scheme of a total of 3,2 billion euro.
He said that between the years of 2015-2019 a total of 72.118 jobs were created and the net employment recorded an increase of 21%, while at the end of 2021 the unemployment was at the lowest rate since 2008.
President Anastasiades referred to a number of decisions that were implemented such as the guaranteed minimum income, the renewal of employment contracts, the re-introduction of COLA, the reforms in the system of social services etc.
He also referred to the decisions taken to combat unregistered employment which let its decrease to less than 10% in 2021 from 27% in 2009.
The President noted that a top priority is the introduction of a minimum national income which will lead to the reduction of the gap and inequalities in payments, inequalities in gender pay etc.
In his address the President also referred to the program implemented for the support of mountainous areas. He did mention the setup of a cable car which was one of his promises but went on to say that he did not succeed due to financial issues and lack of interest by investors.
He also praised the struggles of mineworkers describing them as one of the first worker movements on the island which contributed a great deal in the social and economic picture of Cyprus. He also referred to the fights by trade union SEK for the protection of the rights of all workers.
Source: Cyprus News Agency