The General Health System (GHS) was described as a major social achievement by the Secretary General of the FCC, Andreas Matsas, after the end of the meeting of the General Council of the guild, on Tuesday, at the premises of the FCC. During the session, the situation as shaped by the war in Ukraine and its impact on Cyprus was examined.
The General Secretary of the FCC referred to the diversification of the data on the labour market brought about by the Ukrainian crisis and pointed out that these should be evaluated in connection with the possible granting of leave to workers from third countries, since "a specific decision has also been taken to allow students to join the labour market for a specific period in order to provide a way out and where there is a need for a specific period of time, a specific decision has been taken to allow students to join the labour market for a specific period of time. "The evolution of wages is disproportionate to the profitability of companies, far below the data recorded in terms of growth and the national wealth generated," he said, adding that demands will be made for the granting of wage increases and improvement of related benefits with particular emphasis on the Welfare Fund and the Welfare Fund.
At the same time, in view of the inexactness experienced by Cypriot workers, the ATA should be highlighted as the "only option available to workers to adequately manage the inflationary trends recorded by the economy", Matsas noted. At the same time, he added, "we, as the ACA, believe that we need to extend the institution as horizontally as possible so as to cover all workers in the private sector as well."
Minimum Wage and Tax Reform
In addition, he called on the Government to remain consistent with regard to the definition and establishment of the National Minimum Wage in order to support the groups of the population that are very close to the poverty line and, at the same time, to contribute to the discussion on the establishment of the European Minimum Wage.
The SEK Secretary General stressed that it is time for the Republic of Cyprus to demand from the EU targeted funds to support households and businesses in order to limit the negative effects of the crisis in Ukraine. "We also believe that it is time to put a cap on the profit margin of companies either in relation to fuel or in relation to certain consumer goods," he added.
Matsas also spoke about the need for a comprehensive tax reform and called for the practical implementation of the proposal submitted by the BCC and adopted by the Council of Ministers in relation to the green tax reform. At the same time, he said that efforts should be made to curb tax evasion and consolidate the tax collection capacity of the state through direct payment of VAT to the state at the time of transaction. The FCC stresses once again that it will not allow any political or other force to differentiate or try to change the philosophy and implementation dimension of the GES, he added.
"We support the employees of the Health Insurance Organisation, the work they do, the members of the Board and in their institutional capacity and we make it clear that we will not allow anyone for any political expediency to exploit this greatest social achievement," Matsa continued, adding that the GESY is here to stay. "Enough of populism, enough of any other force or effort made to diversify the GESY. Let us respect society itself, the patients themselves, the very citizens who are in real need of proper and adequate access to a universal health care system," he concluded.
Source: CNA
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