THE BIGGEST news story over last few days has been that it was very hot. As if anyone in Kyproulla had not felt the scorching heat and had to be informed about it by continuous reports and updates from the media.OK, it was the highest ever temperature recorded in early June, but what more is … Read more
The Supreme Court will announce its decision on Wednesday morning regarding the preliminary objection of Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides in the case registered by Attorney General George Savvides for his dismissal for inappropriate behavior.
Workers at the Larnaca port staged a protest against former port operator Kition Ocean Holdings over fears regarding their pay after Kition’s contract was terminated by the government. The government reached a deal with the workers to ensure their continued employment while searching for a new operator. Qatar has shown interest in taking over the port’s running. President Christodoulides wants the issue to be handled immediately.
The permanence of appointments to certain positions such as auditor-general, attorney-general, and deputy attorney-general in Cyprus is being questioned. The idea of permanence was to safeguard independence and objectivity, but it could lead to complacency and lack of motivation. It is suggested that non-renewable contracts with an eight-year term would be more suitable to prevent long-term stays in these positions. The constitution may need to be amended to allow for fixed-term contracts instead of permanent appointments.
Qatar has shown interest in taking on the running of the Larnaca port. President Nikos Christodoulides wants the issue to be handled immediately. Kition sent notice of dismissal to all its workers at the port on Tuesday night.
The Supreme Constitutional Court is set to announce its decision on June 5 on whether attorney-general George Savvides is constitutionally allowed to initiate dismissal proceedings against auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides.
Employees of Larnaca’s port and marina received termination letters from Kition Ocean Holdings Ltd following the project’s collapse. The meeting between the workers’ representatives and the Ministers of Labour and Transport was postponed until Thursday afternoon. The workers were assured that a solution would be found to ensure they are not victimized, and discussions were held regarding their employment status. The new operator taking over the port’s operations should employ the current workers under the same terms and conditions. The President of the Republic reassured that there should be no concern for the workers regarding the port issue. The €1.2 billion contract with Kition Ocean Holdings was terminated by the Minister of Transport, Communications, and Works.
Port operator Kition Ocean Holdings hopes the government does not deviate from its obligations to the workers at the Larnaca port. The government terminated the agreement and ordered Kition to vacate the premises immediately, causing disturbance to the workers. The law stipulates that when ownership of a business is transferred, employees are automatically transferred to the new entity and their rights are also automatically transferred. The government has given assurances that the workers will not be made victims and that a formula will be found to continue their work, but the law mandates that the transfer of employment is automatic and must include all employees.
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.
Nico Murillo, a former Tesla employee who started as a production associate and climbed the corporate ladder to become a Production Supervisor, was abruptly laid off. He had been sacrificing a lot for the company, even sleeping in his car during the week to be close to work. Despite his dismissal, he plans to continue living in his Tesla Model Y for the next 5 years to save on housing expenses and make investments to eventually live off the profits.