The Memorandum is a vicious cycle of recession

Written Statement of Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Press Spokesperson

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

 

The Memorandum vicious cycle of recession continues to exacerbate the most tragic aspect of the banking crisis that has hit our country, namely mass unemployment.

Unfortunately unemployment is continuing to rise sharply, with Cyprus recording the biggest annual increase in the EU with the unemployed reaching 78,000.

As AKEL, we had long ago submitted to the Minister of Labour a comprehensive package of proposals to combat and alleviate the problem of unemployment. We also called on the government to proceed to a dialogue with all political and social forces in order to attempt to find solutions through consensus and the collective handling of the issue. Unfortunately until now, we have not been heeded and the government, as in other matters too, avoids a dialogue and consultation and is merely content with trying to portray a different picture of the actual situation that exists.

We reiterate our proposal, hoping that this time it will be heeded.