Occupied: Controversies over 'earthquake fund' pay cuts

The confrontation continues in the occupied territories over the salary cut that the "government" wants to pass with a "law" from the "parliament" in order to create a fund to deal with emergencies and disasters.

The "prime minister", Unal Ustel, said that the "legislation" will be passed by the "parliament" next week and the amount collected from the salary and pension cuts will be used to create infrastructure in the fields of education and health. His statements were made during a visit to the Nicosia "state" hospital today, to inspect the repair work on the building, which is old and has many problems.

Mr. Ustel said that during his last visit to Ankara, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's will to build a new hospital in occupied Nicosia with a capacity of 500 beds was reaffirmed. "We will sign an economic cooperation protocol in April (with Turkey) and by then the tender for the hospital will be completed," he said.

On the "law" that will deal with the cuts, he said it has three prongs, it will deal with wage cuts, fiscal year 2023 budget restrictions and additional tax resources will be created. "Salary deductions will be spent on education and health. This money will not go anywhere else," he noted.

Those who do not want deductions from their salary can apply to the "ministry of finance", he noted, saying that no deduction will be made from those who receive a salary below a certain amount.

The implementation of the "law", he said, will be monitored by a special committee in which trade unions and NGOs will also participate.

According to Jeni Duzen, the unions have proposed to the "government" that the cuts concern only one month's pensions and wages, to see how much will be collected, where the money will go and how the distribution of financial resources will be controlled they will gather.

This proposal, it is added, will be put next Monday to the competent "committee" of the "parliament", where the proposed "legislation" will be discussed and decisions will have to be made.

In the same publication it is stated that the salary and pension cuts will be staggered, depending on the annual amount.

It should be noted that the trade unions have expressed reactions to the wage cuts because they believe that the "government" with the amount that will be collected wants to close the "budget" deficit and not to create infrastructure.

Source: KYPE