15 workers dismissed by Kition requesting integration into Larnaca marina projects

Fifteen former employees of the Kition Ocean Holdings company after it terminated its contract to construct Larnaca’s port and marina are requesting their inclusion in projects to be carried out at the site by other contractors.

In their statement, the 15 dismissed from the total of 87 former employees of Kition Ocean Holdings, who after the termination of the Agreement between the state and the company were transferred to the Larnaca District Development Agency (ANETEL), state that their transfer was "for a transitional and temporary period, until the decision-making at a political level on the future of the Larnaca port-marina project" which - as they claim - "is included in the 'Declarations of Acceptance of Employment of Personnel' delivered to them by ANETEL".

They add that the "Declaration of Acceptance of Staff Employment" was delivered to them on 28 June "without any possibility of study or consultation. We were forced to sign immediately, under the clear threat that in the event of any delay or reservation we would not receive salaries," they note.

The announcement also states that "the Ministers of Transport and Labour, during their visit to the port of Larnaca on 3 June, expressly pledged that personal meetings would be held with each of us, with the aim of considering the continuation of our employment after the transition period. However, these commitments were never kept and consequently the cultivation of expectations of not being fired prevented us," as they say, "from looking for another job".

However, the former workers note, "despite the Ministers' assurances that our working future will be secured, we were suddenly notified of the termination of our employment by ANETEL on 31 July, before any decision was made at a political level on the future of the port project and marina of Larnaca". As they say, "later the Minister of Transport announced the immediate start of works at Larnaca marina, while for the port he said that decision-making is impossible at this stage, which left the 15 of us, heads of families with many financial obligations, looking for work in the middle of August, something inconceivable."

We wonder, say the 15, "how the Government proceeded to dismiss us before the final political decisions on the project were even made, especially when the announced projects in the Larnaca marina largely concern the scope of work of many of the dismissed."

We demand, say the former Kition workers, “the immediate correction of this gross injustice and our fair inclusion in the announced projects, to which the majority of us have already contributed in the past. If the employment of all of us is not possible, we ask at least the temporary employment of those who will not join the new projects for a reasonable period of time, or alternatively, fair compensation, so that we have the opportunity to find new work."

The 15 also note that they had "meetings, with the Mayor, with Larnaca MPs and other political figures and the Speaker of the Parliament/President of DISY, Annita Demetriou, who showed understanding to our request. We expect the same response from the Ministry of Transport and the Government," the announcement concludes.

Also read: Transport Minister and local stakeholders discuss Larnaca marina development timeline

(Source: InBusinessNews)