Port operator Kition Ocean Holdings on Wednesday expressed hope that the government “does not deviate from its obligations” to the workers at the Larnaca port. This statement followed the revelation that Kition had issued dismissal notices to the workers on Tuesday night. The company emphasized that the abrupt nature of the notice was a direct result of the government’s chosen course of action.
“When the government terminated the agreement on May 27, it ordered Kition to immediately vacate the premises so the government would ‘immediately acquire all the rights to the project.’ The government chose not to have a handover period, which would have allowed for a smooth transition,” they explained.
They further stated that the government had “showed up accompanied by the police” and with “no real plan or direction, especially in relation to the workers.” This sequence of events, they said, “has caused great disturbance to the workers, who are rightly concerned about the future.”
“We are raising this issue publicly to make sure the government will treat workers fairly and according to the law,” they added.
Legal Obligations and Workers’ Rights
The company referenced the law which stipulates that when the ownership of a business is transferred, its employees are automatically transferred to the new entity taking over the business. This includes the automatic transfer of employees’ rights. They pointed out that this law was introduced into Cypriot domestic law in 2000 and is also part of a relevant European Union directive passed the following year. This law applies even if a business is nationalized.
“The transfer of employees is not a matter of choice for the government, but is an automatic result of the taking over of a business and its facilities. It is mandatory under the law,” they asserted.
They added, “In official statements in the past few days, the government has given assurances that the workers will not be made victims and that ‘a formula will be found to continue their work.’ The law mandates that the transfer of employment is automatic and must include all employees.”
For this reason, they expressed being “troubled” by the government’s reference to finding a “formula,” and raised this matter publicly “to ensure workers’ rights are fully respected.”
