By Antonis Loizou F.R.I.C.S. – Antonis Loizou & Associates Ltd – Real Estate Valuers & Estate Agents
We wonder whether there are people in this country who are trying to destroy Cyprus’ ailing economy just as it starts to recover. To this we must consider the dangerous path that this government is following with various handouts and increases for the public servants.
We wonder by what logic some people insist that shops should be closed at weekends.
According to the labour ministry extension of shop working hours to include the weekend secured 7.000 people jobs, be it at a low income of €500 per month (two days a week). These same people are now unemployed leaving the rest of us, through our taxes and contributions, to cover their unemployment pay. We are shocked by a worker protesting outside the House, stating that her €500 income could not cover her rent and living expenses. Some of our MPs who get a good salary, plus other income, philosophise on the subject claiming that €500 income per month (weekends) is low and thus these jobs should be scrapped. We say yes, but it is €500 more than what they were receiving so far (as opposed to their minimum wage unemployment benefit of €330 p.m.).
The argument that the objectors offer to the extension of working hours is dangerous and touches on the overall economic climate. If we are to take for example cruise ship visitors (nowadays not many) and other tourists, will they find the shops closed on weekends?…
