Despite repeated warnings about the potential once-off nature of corporation tax receipts and the concentration risk of having so few firms paying the bulk of the money, Ireland continues to hit the business tax jackpot.Revenue from the tax swelled to a record €23.8 billion last year, almost six times the amount garnered in 2014. It … Read more
The International Monetary Fund praised Cyprus for its strong economic performance, commending the country for its substantial primary surpluses, efforts to reduce public debt, quick recovery from the pandemic, and resilience in dealing with external shocks. The IMF recommended measures to further strengthen the economy, including phasing out electricity subsidies and VAT exemptions, and advised against further cost-of-living adjustments to wages. Other recommendations included reforms to the justice system, labor markets, and vigilance regarding systemic risks in the real estate market.
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is a global labor union that has been organizing in Cyprus since 2020. The IWW stands out from traditional trade unions by being a union for all workers, including minorities, migrants, and sex workers. The IWW is not trying to be friendly with employers and government, unlike traditional unions. The IWW is a horizontal organization that values transparency and full participation rights for all members. The IWW encourages workers to join traditional trade unions as well. In Cyprus, the IWW organizes all workers under one big union, unlike traditional federations divided by profession or sector. The IWW aims to prioritize organizing over mere mobilizing and believes in forming strong relationships with fellow workers.
– Apple stock declined after Berkshire Hathaway disclosed it cut its stake by 13% in the most recent quarter.
– Warren Buffett, Berkshire’s chairman and CEO, stated that Apple is still the company’s largest holding and is “even better” than American Express or Coca-Cola.
– Buffett sold some shares of Apple because he believes corporate taxes are likely to go up in the future.
– Apple is still Berkshire Hathaway’s largest holding, but the exact breakdown of holdings will be revealed in a filing on May 15.
President Nikos Christodoulides assured workers that the government will continue to stand by them in every fair demand.
Coca-Cola raised its annual organic sales forecast after topping first-quarter results as customers in the US and international markets spend more on its sodas and juices.
The late artist Stass Paraskos introduced the concept of turning waste into art to focus on humanity’s wastefulness. His masterpiece, ‘The Great Wall of Lempa,’ incorporates various discarded materials such as broken tiles, concrete sculptures, old bottles, and bicycles.
The IMF was critical of the government’s decision to extend ‘horizontal’ support measures, such as zero VAT and electricity bill subsidies, despite advising against it. The IMF expressed concerns that these measures could negatively affect public finances and undermine efforts to control inflation. The IMF also recommended avoiding indexing adjustments of wages, particularly in the public sector, to reflect macroeconomic developments and productivity increases.
Fact: Coca-Cola HBC Cyprus is continuing its close cooperation with the Pancyprian Association for Autistic Persons to promote inclusion, acceptance, and equal opportunities for people with autism.
Yiannis Panayiotou is the Minister of Labour in the Christodoulides government, known for his strong support of union interests. Over the past year, he has implemented several measures favoring workers, including increasing the Cost of Living Adjustment (CoLA), raising the minimum wage and the minimum wage in the hotel industry, introducing telework legislation, stopping outdoor work during heatwaves, drafting a law to protect workers from standing too long, extending maternity leave to five-and-a-half months, and raising the income of practising lawyers and engineers by €100. Plans for the coming year include stronger regulation of work terms and conditions, more support for working parents, tackling illegal work, extending parental leave, increasing birth allowance, and enhancing workplace safety. Despite these efforts, there is a concern about addressing the labor shortage of about 150,000 workers, especially in the hotel industry. Panayiotou aims to clamp down on illegal employment by increasing inspections by 65% and raising fines, but there are doubts about his approach to the labor market’s needs and his perceived bias against business interests.