THE NICOSIA District Labour Office has become inundated with people signing up for unemployment benefit, and for those already in the system, to pick up their cheques.
“This is the first time in my life that I haven’t been doing anything,” said 23-year-old Joseph Nigoghosian, who said that he has been working since he was 15. His last job was as a panel beater. He has been unemployed since September.
Speaking about the emotional difficulties that come with being out of work for five months, Nigoghosian described it as ‘very, very difficult’. The frustration and hopelessness was evident in his voice.
According to Nigoghosian, who has been receiving benefits since September, he has been called on a few interviews but none of them worked out. “The first one was at a car wash but it turned out they needed someone who had experience in working the machinery and I had two interviews for a cafe job too but they just never called back,” he said.
“I ask around at industries but there isn’t anything,” he said.
Elena Constantinou, who had her one-year-old baby with her, said that she had been unemployed for a month, and had only found out moment before speaking to the Sunday Mail, that her husband had just been laid off as well.
She was a beautician at an institute and he was a fitness instructor at a gym.
“I hope I can find a job soon but I really don’t think that I’ll find one during February either, after that I don’t know,” said 24-year-old Constantinou.
However, despite growing unemployment figures that have hit both old and those fresh out of university, Cypriots still appear reticent to do just any job.
Andreas Pelekanos, 55, said that he was offered a job making deliveries on a motorcycle but turned it down as he felt that he would have to work all hours.
“What kind of hours would I be working? I’m a family man; I don’t even know when people that do this kind of work usually get off work,” said Pelekanos, adding that he would not be willing to do a job that may involve a 12-hour shift.
Pelekanos has been unemployed for two months.
Despite expressing reluctance at doing just any old job he still said that he felt unjustly treated, declaring that “foreigners work and we sit [around].”
Asked about whether he felt hopeful about finding a job any time soon he said: ”It’s like someone’s dog has died and they take it to the vet and ask what can be done?. That’s what the market is like at the moment, it’s not moving.”
He said he didn’t feel as if he would find a job for at least a year.
Pelekanos has a 24-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old boy, but in a sense considers himself to be one of the lucky ones as his wife currently has a job as a school assistant.
Others queuing up were not even sure if they were entitled to the benefit. “I was working as an assistant at my husband’s company, but this is the first time that I’ve come here and I’m not sure whether I’m entitled to anything,” said 37-year-old Maria Meliou, who has three children.
Meliou has been unemployed for three months.
Describing how her husband’s business – a company dealing in construction materials – starting to go down hill about a year ago Meliou said that on top of this they had to pay the €350 company levy last month and were also blighted with a number of thefts worth hundreds of euros.
“We’ve also got a son in Greece studying and the rent over there is extortionate, if he could get a job that would really help but I don’t see that happening,” said Meliou, becoming more and more agitated as she listed more things that had to be paid or that had gone up in price.
The majority of recently unemployed appear simply to be living from one day to the next, not knowing what they will do when the benefits come to an end or when they will find a job.
Giorgos Koutsilas, 43, said he has been unemployed since he was let go in July 2011 when Hellenic Distribution Agency was sold. “What are we going to do? Hang a stone from our necks and jump in,” said Koutsilas, According to Koutsilas, cheques come every two months but ‘sometimes they drag their feet.’
Koutsilas said that he would do any job but whenever he opens the newspaper the only job offers are for people ‘experienced in computers.’
