Unions call for accession process to move ahead

MARKING the end of the third All-Cyprus Trade Union Forum yesterday, Greek and Turkish Cypriot unions signed a joint declaration calling for Cyprus’ EU accession process to be pushed ahead.

Expressing the belief that the accession of Cyprus to the EU would be of huge benefit in a world with increasing globalisation of economies, the unions said they had agreed to organise seminars with EU trade unions in order better to pave the way for their accession into the EU.

The declaration also reiterated the need to safeguard a single system of employment and labour relations, unified wages and salaries, the right of freedom of movement and freedom to choose an employer across the island and the prohibition of discrimination in the workplace.

These are all necessary prerequisites for a truly European country, the unions noted.

The declaration also called for a speedy settlement of the Cyprus problem.