On the increase of unemployment in 2014
While unemployment is galloping and Cyprus records one of the highest percentages amongst the youth, the government looks incapable but mainly unwilling to face the problem.
Unemployment increased for 2014 to 16.1% in relation to 15.9% for 2013, thus meaning that 70 thousands of our compatriots are unemployed. In fact, almost half of them are unemployed for more than a year, while at the same time the migration of Cypriots in foreign countries increases sharply with more and more young people leaving the country.
The restart of the economy didn’t happen in 2014 as the government expected, at least for the majority of the population. Instead, unemployment has increased, wages have fallen down to the levels of past decades, while at the same time a state of medieval working conditions is being rapidly imposed with the slice of working rights and the application of personal contracts that worship the flexible forms of employment and underemployment.
It is clear that this situation cannot be overturned, as long as the government continues to follow the one way of the memorandum and austerity.
It’s about time that the government should stop caressing the ears of the youth with grand statements. Policies that recycle unemployment and share out poverty do not solve the problem of unemployment.
It’s about time that the government should turn in the construction of policies that will relief the unemployed and their families and towards the real growth of economy benefiting the youth and employed and not the great capital.
It’s about time that the government should listen to the concerns and positions of EDON that are ignored by the Ministry of Employment for more than 18 months.
As EDON, we clarify once again that we will continue to struggle because for us the right of working with rights is non-negotiable.
C.C. of EDON
31.03.2015