AKEL will continue to assert for the workers
17 May 2024, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
In his address to the 24th Pancyprian Congress of the Building, Wood, Mine and General Workers Trade Union of the Pancyprian Federation of Labour (PEO), the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL, Stefanos Stefanou, assured the delegates that AKEL as the powerful force of the opposition will continue to assert for the working people and society, submitting proposals that meet society’s needs.
AKEL, Stefanos Stefanou stressed, “will continue to stand on the side of and with the trade union movement in defence of working people’s rights, the protection and extension of collective agreements, the strengthening of policies for safety and health at work. All this and much more is what we are putting forward both in and outside the Cypriot parliament, but also, since 2004, in the European Parliament too”.
After praising the leading role played by the Trade Union in the great strike struggles of the working class and its achievements, the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL referred to the current situation, pointing out that in Cyprus since 2013 there has been a steady fall in real wages and a great deterioration of work. The share of labour in the national income has decreased twice over the years with the latest reduction recorded at 4% of GDP, while the share of profits has increased by 7.5% of GDP.
This increase comes from the fall in working people’s income and naturally leads to the growing economic inequality that has been deepening in recent years in Cypriot society. Particularly if we add inflation and price increases, which are eating away at working people’s incomes, we can easily understand the current situation we are facing.
According to the data just recently released by the Statistical Office, working people’s wages and benefits in Cyprus are almost 40% below the EU average.
Unfortunately, Stefanos Stefanou noted, so far the actions of the current government do not seem to demonstrate the necessary political will to act in favour of workers and society and to confront the powerful interests.
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