Eurostat unemployment figures show that the workers pay the higher price of the crisis

Statement by Charis Polycarpou, Member of the Department of Economic Research of the C.C. of AKEL

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 2nd April 2014, Nicosia

Yesterday’s figures published by “Eurostat” are yet further proof of the fact that the consequences of the crisis in Cyprus are being loaded first and foremost on workers and the young generation.

The February figures show an increase in unemployment to 16.7% and among young people unemployment exceeds 40%, indeed at a time when the labour force in Cyprus is recording the biggest decline all over Europe. This contradiction demonstrates the nature of the crisis and the dead-end policy of the Memorandum. Whilst wages are being cut on the pretext of diversifying terms of employment for the benefit of businesses, more and more workers are joining the ranks of the unemployed.

The problem of unemployment now affects every household in our country. This is the reason why addressing unemployment cannot be restricted just to findings on the causes. A more coherent strategy by the Government is demanded; a strategy that goes beyond elaborating plans for a temporary limitation in the increase in the unemployed and that should focus on the comprehensive and overall combating of the problem.

AKEL has submitted a set of proposals to the Government with a view to the greatest possible combating of unemployment in conditions of the Memorandum. However, we acknowledge that collective wisdom is always better than the wisdom of one. This is why we urge the Government to immediately call on all political parties to discuss our proposals. We call on it to exhaust all possibilities for consultation and we assure that we are ready to work towards finding a common language for the benefit of society, workers and the unemployed.