THE JOBLESS rate in Paphos has hit a record 10 per cent, the SEK union said yesterday, describing the government’s official figures for the town’s unemployed as “misleading”.
According to SEK Paphos general secretary, Neofytos Xenofontos, official figures put unemployment in the town at 7.0 per cent compared to 6.5 per cent islandwide.
“But this number for Paphos is not accurate,” he said. “Paphos has the highest number of long-term unemployed in the Republic.”
Xenofontos said the real number was much higher than the official figure because seasonal employees such hotel workers are not included. Even worse, he said people, who have been out of work for more than six months are no longer entitled to benefits and therefore are not accounted for in the statistics.
According to official figures, the number of registered jobless in Paphos was around 2,200 at the end of December 2009.
“This is not an accurate figure, because when people reach the end of their six months benefit period they disappear from the statistics – even though they are still jobless. This year, many more are joining unemployment lists on a daily basis,” said Xenofontos.
Xenofontos called on the government to show its support by increasing the period of time unemployment benefit is paid from six months to nine months or even a year.
He also added his voice those clamouring for the commencement of the town’s public works projects to ease the jobless rate.
“If large projects earmarked for Paphos, such as the new marina and the Paphos to Polis road don’t start immediately, we are going to be in real trouble,” he added. “These projects will create jobs which a lot of the unemployed of Paphos are suitable for. The figures would then drop considerably to a more acceptable level.”
Xenofontos said the main employers in Paphos were in the sectors of construction and hotels, which have been worst hit by the economic crisis.
“Other towns have many more industries than Paphos and not as many long-term unemployed.,” said Xenofontos. “The situation some families are facing is now dramatic. The state has to stand by them and give them the support they desperately need.”
On a daily basis, hundreds of construction workers can be seen queuing up outside the Paphos social security office and numbers keep increasing.
Marek, who did not wish to give his full name, is a 38-year-old Polish man who has been living in Cyprus for four years.
“I came here for a better life and I had a good job with a construction company in Paphos. I was earning good money and working hard, but I was made redundant a couple of weeks ago.
“I haven’t told my mother in Poland, as she would just worry. I’m hoping that something will come along, but there are so many of us looking for jobs and there aren’t enough for us all,” he said.
And it’s not just the construction industry which is suffering. ‘Closing down’, ‘Everything must go’ and ‘For Rent’ and ‘For Sale’ signs are cropping up everywhere.
The entertainment and media industries have also been feeling the pinch, with bars and venues closed on the once busy Ayios Antoniou Street – known as Bar Street – in Kato Paphos. This strip was established as the hub of the town’s nightlife, but now many of the venues have shut up shop.
Just days ago, a local television station terminated a large portion of its workforce and other radio, TV and print media have said they are all tightening their belts.
Nassos Hadjigeorgiou, the manager of the Paphos regional board of tourism isn’t optimistic for the future.
“We are reliant on the English market, who make up at least 50 per cent of the Cypriot tourism market, and I think this year will be especially difficult. I haven’t seen any signs, as yet, that the industry will pick up.”
Hadjigeorgiou said he believed Paphos o be an “old, outdated product” as a tourist destination.
“Our hotels are stuck in the 90s. As far as I can see, there hasn’t been any practical change on the approach to tourism and I don’t believe that Cyprus is a preferred destination any longer.”
The number of homeless in Paphos is also on the increase and the mayor recently highlighted the need for a shelter providing support in the once booming coastal town.
