Pensioners in Nicosia will mark the International Day of Older Persons, which is celebrated annually on October 1, by protesting outside the Cyprus Ministry of Finance.
The reason is the government's lack of respect for older people.
Pensioners' union general secretary Sotirullah Haralambous criticized government decisions to abolish zero VAT on electricity and subsidies for energy costs, which she said had a big impact on low-income pensioners.
Speaking at a press conference before the general assembly of the Cyprus Pensioners' Union (Ekysy), Charalambous said pensioners "are taking to the streets because they have no other choice."
Charalambous explained that the World Federation of Trade Unions (Wtfu), of which she is a member, uses October 1 as a day to mobilize retirees around the world to improve their quality of life.
“In Cyprus, pensioners will mark this day fighting for their rights as they have no choice but to protest again to demand respect,” she said.
She cited data showing that a third of Cypriots have incomes below €14,000, and a third of pensioners live at or near the poverty line.
Instead of implementing policies to support our pensioners, the government is taking measures that take away what little they have,” she added.
Charalambous also stressed that ensuring decent pensions for all retirees and eliminating the 12 percent penalty for those who choose to retire at 63 are her organization's top priorities.
In turn, Ekysy Secretary General Kostas Scarparis emphasized the need to take measures to address the rising cost of living, abolishing the 12 percent penalty for early retirement, as well as increasing pensions and the poverty threshold.
He also called for an increase in the guaranteed minimum income, pensions for widowers, free transport for all pensioners and the restoration of the Easter bonus.
Scarparis concluded by saying that despite numerous appeals to the Anastasiades and Christodoulides governments over the past 11 years, “these problems remain unresolved, leaving thousands of pensioners suffering.” Source: cyprus-mail.com
