Workers at Larnaca Port Go on Strike

On Friday morning, workers at Larnaca Port staged a protest against the former port operator, Kition Ocean Holdings. Port employees fear that after the termination of the contract for the operation of the port and the marina for yachts, they will not be paid their salaries at the end of May.

According to the Cyprus Mail newspaper, port workers removed flags with the logo of the former operator and displayed a new sign with the port administration's logo at the entrance to the port.

Some protesters carried banners with messages such as "87 families on the street, why?", "Shame and disgrace," and "terrible injustice to Kition and Larnaca workers."

Near the port, the protesting workers were met by the President of the House of Representatives, Anita Demetriou, who spoke with the demonstrators and held negotiations with some port employees.

Speaking after the meeting, Anita Demetriou urged the Ministry of Labour to meet with the workers and assure them about their salaries.

The protest action is taking place on the eve of an extraordinary meeting of the House of Representatives' transport committee, which will discuss further developments in the port. The committee invited the Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeades, the Auditor General, Odysseas Michaelides, and representatives of Kition Ocean Holdings to participate in the meeting.

Recall that the government terminated the contract with the operator for the operation of the port and marina for yachts on Monday. Following this, on Tuesday evening, the operator sent dismissal notices to all employees at Larnaca Port.

Then, on Wednesday, the government reached an agreement with the workers to ensure their continued employment at the port while the government searches for a new operator.

Speaking about the port's future, the Minister of Transport stated on Thursday that Qatar is interested in managing it. This became known after the visit to the island by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, earlier in the week.