BUSINESS leaders yesterday issued a dire warning, as the impact of the truckers’ strike began to be felt across the island’s economy.
The Employers’ and Industrialists Federation (OEV) said problems were beginning to emerge in the construction industry, which would come to a complete standstill in two to three days if the strike continued.
Around 2,000 containers remain stranded in the Limassol port while ships continued to unload their cargo.
Truckers, who are affiliated to two unions, continued to strike yesterday demanding the retraction of 209 ‘B’ licences,
The striking drivers, who are holders of ‘A’ licences, have charged that ‘B’ licence holders are illegally taking away their business.
‘B’ licences are only issued to private businesses who need trucks to transport their good or products.
Holders of the licences are not allowed to take on any jobs unconnected to their company.
The strike yesterday entered its second day, with the booming construction industry already feeling the pinch as raw materials run short.
OEV general secretary Michalis Pilikos suggested the construction industry could start laying off workers in a couple of days if the situation continued.
But all sectors of the economy were being affected, he told the Cyprus Mail.
He said the strike coincided with the time most businesses were completing their orders before the summer holidays, something they would now be unable to do.
In a written statement, OEV urged the government to intervene and stop the strike or at least secure free access to the ports, airports, mines and other sources of raw materials and products, should the action continue.
The federation also asked the government to look into liberalising the road haulage sector, as it was the third time the island had experienced such action.
One businessman expressed his disgust at the situation and suggested it was about time the government stopped tolerating the economy being held hostage by truckers every time.
He said there was no legal obstacles to liberalising the sector, but was quick to add that the politicians would be reluctant to break the truckers’ cartel.
In just two days, the strike has left around 2,000 containers stranded at the Limassol port, with space running out fast.
Port director Christos Matsis said the containers could not be moved out and were being stacked in anticipation of any developments.
“We expect to have space for another week; we can accommodate cargo until then but after that everyone will start looking for space,” Matsis said.
But importers of perishable goods were getting desperate.
“We have three containers of fruit, cherries, which are sensitive, peaches, nectarines, peppers, and vegetables from Holland, and if they are not moved to our warehouse then we will have a problem,” fruit and vegetable importer Antonis Rousos said.
He warned that it was consumers who would ultimately pay for the damage, as importers would be forced to increase their prices.
The association of cement makers warned that they would be forced to take the necessary steps to secure the necessary raw materials if the strike was not lifted in the next 24 hours.
They also urged the government to provide them with protection from malicious actions against their businesses or they would be forced to shut shop altogether.
“If these steps are not implemented we unfortunately have no other choice but to shut down our businesses, with all the consequences for the workers and the entire construction industry,” the association said.
For its part, the government described the strike as unjustified action that only did harm to the economy.
Communications Minister Harris Thrasou urged truckers to lift their measures and expressed the government’s readiness to examine their complaints.
Referring to ‘B’ licence holders, Thrasou pledged to look into whether any of them had misled the licensing authority into issuing them the licence and those found to have done so would suffer the consequences.
“Why don’t they accept this and insist on striking,” Thrasou said.
He said the government had agreed to appoint an investigator but looking into the cases would take time.
“Do we have to destroy the economy if he takes 15 days or a month to resolve the issue?” the minister said.
At the same time, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides repeated that for the time being the government was not even discussing the possibility of commandeering trucks.
