Is this really happening for so many years? That it’s being discussed in far-off Sri Lanka while we’re none the wiser here? I personally was unaware and regret this oversight.
I learned about this when Fanis Makrides spotted news reports from Sri Lanka. An MP there raised the issue of diplomatic measures to recover social security contributions owed to Sri Lankan workers employed in Cyprus.
The situation is straightforward: For years, thousands of Sri Lankan citizens (currently about 7,000) have worked in Cyprus, with employers making social security contributions alongside their wages. Yet these workers receive no benefits from these payments.
When they leave Cyprus, these contributions aren’t added to their pensions or other social security benefits. While employers – say, a pensioner needing help who employs a Sri Lankan domestic worker – must make these contributions, the question remains: where does this money go? Over the years, it must amount to tens of thousands. Is the Fund – effectively the state – exploiting money that belongs to these workers?
Cyprus has Social Security Bilateral Agreements with the UK, Greece, Egypt, Canada, Australia, Austria, Slovakia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Syria – but not with Sri Lanka. Whether this is due to Sri Lankan or Cypriot governments remains unclear, but the pressing question is: what happens to these contributions? And why must employers and workers pay into a system that never benefits the intended recipients?
What is this? Theft? Indifference? Another scheme to fill state coffers? Are we really stealing from these struggling people who’ve travelled 5,674 kilometres from home to earn a living? The Cypriot state should move heaven and earth to ensure these contributions reach their rightful recipients, rather than just collecting and sitting on the money.
27 more people drowned
The year began with another migrant tragedy. Twenty-seven people, including women and children, drowned yesterday after two boats capsized off central Tunisia. They were all sub-Saharan Africans attempting to reach Europe. These tragedies are endless. Their struggle for survival doesn’t pause for New Year’s or ever. Meanwhile, we’re preoccupied with debates about whether fireworks should be silent or if we should continue making noise at every opportunity.
Syria in turmoil
Speaking of our neighbourhood, and while awaiting normalisation in Syria for thousands of Syrians in Cyprus to return: nothing suggests stabilisation. Yesterday, news agencies reported major Syrian forces operations in Homs, focusing on Alawite neighbourhoods – Assad’s own sect. The operation targets “war criminals and persons involved in crimes who refused to surrender their weapons.”
Bashar al-Assad, an Alawite himself, previously enjoyed significant support from this minority, who are now apparently seen as regime opponents. Alawites, like Alevis, represent different Islamic traditions. What matters for us is that Syria remains far from stability. The unrest could trigger new migrant waves and shows no signs of allowing Syrians’ immediate return.
We have a long road ahead. The year has just begun. Let’s keep up the well-wishing.
