Proposal for Foreign workers to be paid 30% less than minimum wage!

[laptawrinkly]

https://www.kibrispostasi.com/c1-KIBRIS ... r-ihbardir

Levent OZADAM writes in the Kibris postasi today 17/01/25:

Some statements are misinforming the public...

In response to demands from business circles, it was decided to change the minimum wage policy applied to foreign workers they employ!

So from now on, they will receive 30 percent less than the minimum wage...

After this decision, the opposition started to get up and down!

They also talk about racism...

It's not even related!

The reason is this;

The employer covers the accommodation problems of workers brought from 3rd world countries...

They are staying in lodgings!

They also provide 3 meals a day...

So they don't pay for accommodation and food!

Employers naturally do not want to pay them minimum wage...

After negotiations with the government, workers will receive their salaries with a 30 percent cut of the minimum wage!

We couldn't understand where the abnormality was...

Just incredible! The same people that decry being treated as 3rd class citizens, by the Republic of Cyprus and the rest of the world, are more than happy to do to others what they complain about. Surely an employer should pay the full minimum wage and then deducts properly/legally the accommodation and food costs? That prevents abuse, as I bet the workers will get no evidence of what the actual costs are - employer making a profit on this for sure!

Is this going to be a flat 30% less wage or only for those 'accommodated workers' - fill in the answer on the back of a postage stamp and I bet it is a yes!

[waddo]

I can see lots of 3rd world country workers looking for new jobs at this rate! It will be difficult to police as well - take the case of your gardener (if you have one) you should be paying the gardener an hourly rate but most just agree a cost per week/month. I am not talking about a business supported gardener but more the roaming gardener who self employs and jumps from job to job - hourly rate or food and accommodation??

Building workers, road gangs, etc, etc. It is a nightmare to sort out and some will be better off who have food and accommodation provided yet some will be on minimum wage and having high rents to pay! It looks - to me - like it has not been thought out well as are most things here and is just a way to prevent a huge rise in the minimum wage this time again. For sure the Government will make money out of it and most people will lose out.

[frugal90]

minimum wage means minimum wage??????????

nuts

[Reyntj]

Not all foreigners will be -30% they have to have food and accomodation & there is a contract to sign.

For many small employers it will cost them the same either way. Imo its aimed at the big hotels and construction companies who are already providing food and homes many small employers dont.

It is what it is imo its not going to make anything cheaper just the fat cats running the show will make more money.



It wont stop foreigners coming here to work as even with a 30% haircut its still better than their own country also minimum wage goes up today.

[frugal90]

does anyone know what the increase is in minimum wage, more fuel for the inflation fire!!

surely someone needs to give a basis economics lesson to the people who make the decisions???

[Reyntj]

Meeting started at 4pm....cost of living 11%
.the unions have been saying the figures are false and they wont accept it..

https://www.kibrispostasi.com/c35-KIBRI ... n-toplandi

Heres the latest.it was pointed out that on the south that the min wage is lower than here even before an increase but the union guy asked if anyone can live on 1000 euro.per month here..the problem.is gdp per capita is more than 3 times higher in the soith...doesnt add up as we all know

[alphamike]

The Commission on Minimum Wage Determination has set the first minimum wage for 2025.

Accordingly, the minimum wage was gross 43 thousand 469 TL, while the net was 37 thousand 818 TL.

The minimum wage was increased by 7.5 percent.

Source.....https://www.gundemkibris.com/son-dakika ... endi384373

[snd1966]

The biggest problem here is so many people are on minimum wage , work permits are to your place of employment and should be only there. Plus so many help 'friends'. The small businesses suffer, to employ somebody is not cheap , not the easiest task to gain employees a work permit and commit to a salary. If I was in the position of most workers I would like the facility to maybe work a few hours for another boss but legally this is not allowed but if another employer could make use of my full time employer' issued permit but pay taxes on my wages etc it would bring in money to the government in taxes but reduced costs to employers. Employee more in their pocket, additional employer not having full costs, full time employer the government wouldn't have to keep raising their costs to get money in the kitty. Admittedly most staff especially in service, work long hours and probably do not have the time or energy to have a second job.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

Any bets that foreign workers will now get paid 30% less AND THEN have their meals and accommodation deducted?

It sounds that with a bit of jiggery pokery you can substantially reduce your staff costs by employing foreign workers given how badly they write up legislation.
That should prove wonderful news for TCs whose family don’t have a business or connections to get a golden ticket job in government.

Another example of unjoined up thinking.

[blueparrot]

This article in Cyprus Mail says the TRNC’s minimum wage is the 9th highest in the EU, higher than ROC, Greece, Poland, Malta, Portugal.
https://cyprus-mail.com/2025/01/18/fury ... n-republic

[frugal90]

Implosion imminent

[EnjoyingTheSun]

Implosion imminent

The TRNC economy is being run like someone living off their credit cards.
The credit card company will keep putting up your limit while you keep making that minimum payment, as you dig yourself further and further into that hole.
The minimum payment which never reduces the balance becomes a higher and higher proportion of your disposable income until you don’t earn enough to make that minimum payment.
TRNC will be at that point by the end of the year.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

This article in Cyprus Mail says the TRNC’s minimum wage is the 9th highest in the EU, higher than ROC, Greece, Poland, Malta, Portugal.
https://cyprus-mail.com/2025/01/18/fury ... n-republic

I believe ROC’s GDP is the 30th highest in Europe and our GDP is what, a fifth of theirs?