The government must include workers hired in the first crisis period in the special unemployment benefit
Statement by Andreas Fakontis, AKEL Paphos District Secretary and AKEL Member of Parliament
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 29 April 2020, Nicosia
According to information we have, the government is heading towards the non-payment of a special unemployment benefit for the first period, that is to say from 16th March to 12th April, for those working people who were hired in February and March 2020. As has been decided, they will be given the special unemployment benefit from the second period, namely from 12th April onwards.
The government’s decision will further worsen the economic situation of many working people as most of them were unemployed during the previous period (whether they were eligible for unemployment benefits or not).
AKEL therefore once again calls on the government ruling forces to take seriously into account the financial difficulties of those workers who were hired in February and March 2020 and to include them in the special plans for the provision of special unemployment benefits retrospectively, for the period that will commence as of 16th March 2020.
