Visit of the Workers' Group President Oliver Röpke in Cyprus

Following an invitation by Nicos Epistithiou on behalf of the Cypriot Workers' Group representatives in the European Economic and Social Committee, within the framework of further improvement of the relations between the EESC and the Trade Union Movement, Group II President Oliver Röpke made a 6-day visit in Cyprus from 12 to 18 September 2009.  

During his visit, colleague Röpke accompanied by the members of the Cyprus delegation to the Committee, Nicos Epistithiou and Andreas Pavlikkas, had meetings with the Minister of Labour, Welfare, and Social Insurance, Mrs Zeta Emilianidou, and the Secretaries-General of SEK (Cyprus Employees Confederation, member of the European Trade Union Confederation ), Mr. Andreas Matsas, and of PEO (Pancyprian  Federation of Labour), Mr Pampis Kiritsis, respectively.

At the meetings, Mr Röpke referred to the role that the EESC and in particular the Workers' Group play at European level. Reference  was made to the priorities of the Group for the promotion of social dialogue and collective bargaining, defending workers' rights and improving the working and living conditions via the implementation of the Pillar of Social Rights, equality at work, the need for setting a minimum wage, promoting and implementing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and others.  

He also referred to the EESC relations with the Commission and the European Parliament and stressed that they should be improved so that EESC Opinions are taken seriously by these two European bodies. 

Trade union leaders informed Mr Röpke about the current situation in Cyprus regarding labour issues and the problems which employees faced and continue to face as a result of the economic crisis, such as unemployment, violation of the collective agreements, an attempt from employers to deregulate the labour market, the necessity for the introduction of a national minimum wage and others. They asked for the cooperation and support of the EESC and European Trade Unions to address these problems.

The Minister referred to the relations of the Ministry with social partners, the functioning of the Labour Advisory Body (a body where all social partners are represented), giving emphasis to the functioning of the social dialogue and stressing that it is at a high level, something which helped in tackling the crisis to the greater extent possible. She made special reference to the recent agreement between the social partners in the Hotel Industry and the role played by the Ministry and the Minister personally in shaping the mediation proposal submitted to both parties.

During his visit to the SEK premises, Mr. Röpke, accompanied by the Secretary General, members of the Secretariat and representatives of the EESC, visited the SEK museum where the history of the Movement is exposed as well as the library. At the initiative of Nicos Epistithiou and in collaboration with the Secretariat, among other library books and material, a special place will be kept for the Committee's Opinions in text, while an electronic file will record the Opinions in Greek and in English. The opinions can be consulted by the SEK mechanism, SEK members, researchers, students and the public in general. A special area will also be created dedicated to the publications and studies of the Committee.

Mr. Röpke welcomed these two projects particularly emphasising to the way in which EESC work and actions were being promoted.

As regards the social side of his visit, Mr. Röpke visited historical and religious places both in the free areas and in areas under occupation, seeing the dramatic results of the Turkish invasion since 1974.

Mr. Röpke visited the tomb of the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, where he deposited flowers. He then visited one of the tourist apartment complexes of SEK where retired members of SEK are hosted. 

Lefkosia, 3 October 2019                                                          By Nicos Epistithiou