AKEL on misleading reduction in unemployment
Statement by Haris Polycarpou, member of the Economic Research Department of the C.C. of AKEL
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 1st June 2016, Nicosia
On the pretext of the reduction in unemployment in statistical terms, AKEL would like to reiterate that this does not include either the number of young people who are migrating abroad in their thousands, or the number of our fellow citizens who have been discouraged and are no longer looking for work. Those who today argue that the government’s policies have created new jobs will have to explain why although statistically unemployment is falling at the same time the number of working people in Cyprus are falling simultaneously.
For AKEL the statistical reduction in unemployment isn’t the only important issue, but also the need to ensure a dignified job for those who are working. The policies implemented so far by the Government are leading to the increase in uninsured work, underemployment and to the reduction of benefits for working people.
In contrast to these policies, AKEL supports policies that benefit the many and not the privileged select few. It proposes policies promoting sustainable development policies for increased public and private investment so that permanent, full and high quality jobs will be created. In addition AKEL has also submitted proposals for the protection of working people’s incomes and policies to offer support to the vulnerable groups of the population so that income inequality which today is increasing dramatically can be halted.
