The termination of the state’s contract with Kition Ocean Holdings has sparked unease among the company’s employees, who anxiously await the government’s decisions regarding their future employment status. On Tuesday, the Minister of Labour met with trade unions SEK and PEO, where assurances were provided that the workers would not be left without a solution and that their continued employment would be prioritised.
Government and Unions Unite for Workers’ Rights
A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Thursday, involving the Ministers of Labour and Transport, along with the trade unions. According to sources within the Ministry of Labour, the government intends to “adhere to the procedures stipulated by labour laws and applied consistently in similar cases”.
Meanwhile, the Municipality of Larnaca has expressed its solidarity with the employees of Kition Ocean Holdings’ subsidiary companies. In a statement, they called upon “the relevant authorities to take the necessary actions to safeguard the workers’ labour rights”.
PEO, voicing its opposition to the privatisation of Larnaca Port, demands that “solutions must be found to protect the jobs of Kition workers. It is imperative for the state to prevent the victimisation of these workers through job losses. Dialogue is essential to finding solutions that ensure the continuity of their employment and safeguard their labour rights, as outlined in the collective labour agreement.”
PEO further expects the government “to refrain from making any decisions until these matters have been thoroughly discussed, allowing for the presentation of our positions and arguments”.
Additionally, Charalambos Avgousti, General Secretary of OMEPEGIE-SEK, emphasised in an interview with the Cyprus News Agency that during yesterday’s meeting with the Minister of Labour, they “requested consideration for the Kition workers to prevent their victimisation”. He further relayed that the Minister of Labour “assured us that both he and the Ministry of Transport will ensure the employment of these individuals under the new employer regime, thus avoiding any victimisation.
“Our primary concern is to keep the port operational, serving both commercial vessels and those under the Amalthea humanitarian corridor,” he added.
