AKEL will continue to support working people, households and the economy

 

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 28th March 2020, Nicosia

The package of measures providing support to working people, which has been approved by parliament, includes provisions and benefits to alleviate the problems caused by the coronavirus.

AKEL has made a substantial contribution in the formulation of the package by submitting specific proposals for working people, including self-employed workers as well, households and the economy. Many of our proposals were accepted and others were not.

There are a lot of problems and they are increasing so long as the situation continues. We recognize that the state’s economic capabilities are specific, but we consider that there are groups of the population and professional groups that must be supported.

For example, the government must study how it will help the owners of very small businesses who were excluded from the government’s plan for those businesses that have suspended their operation. AKEL also raised this issue directly, but the government didn’t accept it citing budgetary costs.

AKEL raised the issue of the rents of SME’s that have suspended their work as a matter of urgency. On this issue too, the government took a negative stand.

The problem of post-dated cheques was persistently raised by our Party. We didn’t get a response on this issue either, despite the fact that there is no question of budgetary costs.

For some days now, we have been highlighting the need for the government to set a ‘ceiling’ on the already urgent need to protect citizens from profiteering phenomena. There was no clear commitment by the government on this matter too.

The General Secretary of our Party raised before the responsible Ministers the matter of ending work on Sundays in supermarkets. This is about protecting workers. The government didn’t respond positively on this question as well. But the government must finally realise that people and their health are above profits.

For the above, but also for the various other existing problems that exist or/and for all the others that will arise, AKEL will continue to put pressure on the government and submit proposals to tackle them to the extent possible of course.