The non-implementation of collective agreements puts workers at a disadvantage
Statements by the General Secretary of AKEL A.Kyprianou, after visiting a construction site at the Polytechnic School of the University of Cyprus
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 20th April 2021, Nicosia
”Our visit here today seeks to discuss with workers the various important issues that concern them. As AKEL we attach great importance to issues such as collective agreements. We insist that collective agreements must be extended to cover other sectors as well, mainly of course in the construction sector and be implemented. Above all, the non-implementation of collective agreements puts workers at a disadvantage and certainly promotes unfair competition too. We also are adamant that where there are no collective agreements, a mechanism must be established to introduce a minimum wage, as well as other rights for working people.
And finally I’ll just say that one of the other important issues that we are interested in is the abolition of the 12% penalty for those who insist on retiring at 63, provided that they have completed the 33.5 years provided by the relevant legislation to be eligible for retirement.
It is with satisfaction that we find that here collective agreements are observed and applied in practice and our demand is that they be extended to all contractor companies without exception.
Addressing the government, I want to say that it is in times of crisis that the protection of workers is demanded, so special attention must be paid to all these issues so that on the one hand workers are protected and on the other, as I said before, unfair competition between various companies is prevented.”
