Discussion for the 4 controversial “draft bills” postponed for the 5th of December; Bicakli: There are more than 400 thousand illegal workers
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (11.11.11) reports that yesterday’s discussion at the self-styled assembly of the “draft bills” on social security, social insurance, providence fund, foreigners and immigration, was postponed for the 5th of December. According to the paper, this was due to the reactions of the Turkish Cypriot opposition parties, trade unions and various other organisations. The “draft bills” were sent back to the “assembly’s” subcommittee.
Commenting on the development, the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk, stated that despite the fact that the discussion of the “draft bills” was postponed for the 5th of December, the “laws” will come into force on the 1st of January 2012. He stated that even if the “draft bills” were sent back to the “assembly’s” subcommittee, he is determined to conclude the discussion of the “draft bills” at the “general assembly” on 5 December and to pass the “laws”.
On their part, both Ozkan Yorgancioglu, the chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and Mehmet Cakici, the chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), described the postponement of the “draft bills” discussion as a “success of the public”.
In addition, Turkish daily Havadis (11.11.11) reports that the chairman of various trade unions which are against the “draft bills”, commenting on the issue stated that the postponement of the discussion and the fact that the “draft bills” were sent back to the “assembly’s” subcommittee, does not solve the problem and added that they will have their eyes on the “government” on the issue. They said that if the “government” tries to pass the “draft bills” without making changes, they will take action again.
Furthermore, the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Unions’ Federation (TURK-SEN), Arslan Bicakli, stated that there are more than 400 thousand illegal Turkish workers in occupied Cyprus and said that if these are registered, the income (of the social insurances) will be increased by 150%.
Moreover, citing information, columnist Gokhan Altiner writes in Turkish daily Haberdar (11.11.11) that the “Turkish embassy” to occupied Lefkosia exerted pressure so that the social insurances “draft bill” to pass. The journalist writes that it will be interesting to observe the reaction of the “Turkish embassy” after the social insurances “draft bill” discussion was postponed by the “government”.
