The government should support those who continue to be affected by the pandemic

 

Statement by Andreas Kafkalias, AKEL MP and President of Parliamentary Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance Committee on the Special Support Plans to address the effects of the pandemic for July 2021

The situation in the labour and employment sector remains negative. The figures released by Eurostat revealing that the unemployment rate in Cyprus has risen to 9.9% in May 2021 are indicative. The course of the economy and in particular the forecasts being made regarding tourism are not favourable, a fact which increases the pressure on working people and very small and small, especially, businesses.

The latest decree issued by the Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance regarding support schemes for working people and businesses has been restricted, without any consultation whatsoever, just to the unemployed in the hotel industry, excluding, in fact, the unemployed workers in the hotel sector in the Limassol District. In other words, all other categories of unemployed people have been removed from these schemes.

Furthermore, we note that categories of self-employed workers, who are still adversely being affected by the effects of the pandemic, have been excluded from the support schemes.

We call on the Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Security to reexamine her decision and reintegrate all unemployed persons who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic into the Special Support Scheme, as well as all the categories of working people and businesses that continue to be affected by the pandemic.