The opposition party AKEL called on the government and the Police leadership to withdraw their decisions regarding police working hours. The party issued a sharp critique, stating the promoted changes directly undermine labour institutions. It labelled the justification of resource saving as “provocative,” given that the government “decided to waive hundreds of millions of euros, through tax breaks, for major businesses and banks.”
In a statement, AKEL announced that “the Police Chief’s announcements regarding changes to police working hours hurt the earnings and working conditions of police officers, while the unilateral modification of working terms without consultation directly undermines labour institutions. Furthermore, it is not substantiated how these changes will result in an upgrade of the corps’ operational capacity.”
AKEL noted that the government and the Police leadership, instead of addressing the real issues—the reorganisation and meritocracy within the Police—are “exhausting their severity” on the working conditions and earnings of police members.
The party added that it is “provocative” that the reduction in earnings for thousands of low-paid employees, such as the majority of ordinary police officers, is being presented as a saving of state resources, at the same time the government “decided to waive hundreds of millions of euros, through tax breaks, for major businesses and banks.”
The government, the statement stressed, “bears the responsibility for these decisions and the climate being created within the police corps.” AKEL called on the government and the Police leadership to withdraw these decisions and enter into dialogue with the members of the Police and their unions.