Two key priorities— child allowance and student grants, were raised by the Pan-Cyprian Organization of Large Families during a meeting with the President of the Republic on Thursday afternoon, as well as the reinstatement of the company car and the maternity allowance.
The meeting took place in the presence of Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Tina Pavlou and Deputy Minister to the President, Irini Piki. Ms. Pavlou stated after the meeting that the requests made by the Organization would be costed and that a response would be provided shortly.
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The organization’s president, Kleanthis Symeonides, said that in addition to the 23,000 large families in Cyprus have been experiencing a reduction in state support since 2012, when the economic crisis began, as benefits have been curtailed or eliminated, while legislative provisions and criteria that create injustices still remain.
The middle class has truly suffered a great deal in recent years—not only large families, but the middle class in general, as he said.
Mr. Symeonidis stated that they called for a substantial increase in benefits, the correction of injustices, and fairer treatment of large families, since “children and large families are the future of our country.”
We acknowledge every positive step that is taken, he noted, adding that they believe the time has come “to begin a substantive restoration of state support based on the current needs of families.” Rectifying injustices, he continued, is not enough to address the demographic problem. If the state truly wishes to boost the birth rate, more must be done, he added.
Mr. Symeonidis expressed his conviction that today’s meeting will mark a new beginning with concrete decisions regarding the child allowance and student grants. “We are satisfied with what we heard from the President; he took a positive stance, and we hope to see some concrete announcements soon.”
As the Pan-Cyprian Organization of Large Families, she said, they will continue, with responsibility and a spirit of cooperation, to advocate for the support to which large families in Cyprus are entitled, for their own benefit as well as for the demographic future of Cyprus.
The Deputy Minister of Social Welfare stated that supporting the family is at the heart of the government’s social policy. “If we do not support the family, we cannot have a strong state.” Over the past three years, she added, the first very important steps have been taken to support families, and these efforts will continue, as strengthening the family is a priority for the government.
Tina Pavlou, responding to a related question, said that the issue of changes to the child allowance is currently before Parliament, and that the requests they heard today at the meeting with President Christodoulides, in the presence of the Deputy Minister to the President, Irini Piki, will be costed and addressed shortly. “There is no question that what we have started will continue into the future.”
The low birth rate, she said, is a national problem, and the government is deeply concerned, hence the measures that have already been launched. Ms. Pavlou noted that there is no way they would have the (financial) resources and fail to respond to the requests of large families.
When asked whether the organization for large families had costed its requests, Mr. Symeonidis answered in the affirmative, adding that what they requested was to have “even what we’ve lost since 2012” costed. “We’re talking about many, many millions. The numbers are unbelievable. We also pointed out that family support is better in Europe.”
These factors must be taken into account, he said, citing as an example that the average European spends 830 euros on child-related expenses, while in Cyprus the figure is just 277—one-third of that amount. “We are an occupied country. These things must change. When will they change? So that we can see an improvement in birth rates as well.”
The Deputy Minister interjected at this point, saying that, indeed, since 2012, large families have been suffering, and that reason, steps have been taken over the past three years to support these families, who were subjected to all those cuts during the previous decade.
Source: CNA
