Cyprus recorded the hottest June in 23 years, with inland temperatures reaching an infernal 43.6 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, and expected to rise further to a record 44C on Thursday. The Met Office issued an Orange Alert saying that maximum temperatures on Thursday are expected to reach around 43-44 degrees Celsius over the central plain … Read more
Options for Larnaca’s port and marina are being evaluated, with a commitment to inform the public about next steps soon. The Amalthea initiative at the port is currently not operating with cranes, but efforts are being made to increase output. Pay interruptions for employees are being handled by the labour ministry. Both a marina and a port will be the outcome of the project, with a re-evaluation of the types of cargo transported through Larnaca. The possibility of niche specialization for farmers and livestock operators is being considered. The project may involve breaking it down into smaller components and reducing its scale. The restart of the project may take time and changed circumstances must be taken into account. The state’s public works department may take on building roads and pumping stations to speed up the process.
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.
Business owners in the north filed an objection to the new minimum wage, which is set to be raised to a gross figure of 34,070TL (€975) at the end of the month. The new minimum wage is now just €25 lower than the Republic of Cyprus’s minimum wage.
Fact: Police arrested six people for illegal employment and two for illegal residence in a property under renovation in Famagusta province.
The government is preparing subsidies for elderly people who require long-term care in nursing homes but face financial constraints.
Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou signed off on a compulsory provision guaranteeing safety and health training for all construction industry workers in the country. The ‘Safe Pass’ card will serve as proof of basic safety and health training at worksites.
Fact: More than two dozen police officers raided a hotel in Paphos to check for workers employed illegally, causing concern among hotel guests and raising questions about the government’s approach to tackling illegal work in Cyprus.
Larnaca port is at a standstill due to a strike by dockworkers demanding overtime pay. The strike has caused concerns for the port and the island’s economy. The matter may be referred to the Labour Ministry. Trade unions claim the port operator violated labour agreements regarding overtime schedules and pay. Employers and industrialists criticize the strike as unnecessary and in violation of the Industrial Relations Code. The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry also condemns the strike and calls for legislative regulation of strikes in essential services.
Fact: Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou emphasized the importance of safety and health in the workplace during an event co-organized by the department of labour inspection and CNP Insurance.