A man rides a bicycle past a Civil Defense vehicle in Akrotiri village, located near RAF Akrotiri, a British sovereign base in Cyprus that was hit by a drone early Monday. For over 50 years, residents had been accustomed to living with the sound of fighter jet engines overhead, but not with the sounds of emergency messages calling them to leave their homes. [YIANNIS KOURTOGLOU/REUTERS]
Cyprus is moving a step closer to a long-promised overhaul of its pension system, with the Labor Ministry saying it plans to submit draft legislation to Parliament by mid-July.
Labor and Social Insurance Minister Marinos Mousiouttas said on Monday that discussions with social partners are continuing, as the government tries to shape a reform that will affect both current workers and future retirees.
The proposal is expected to touch key parts of the system people rely on in their later years, including widowhood and disability pensions, as well as orphan benefits, with officials saying eligibility conditions will become more favorable for employees in need.
“These will be more advantageous conditions and criteria for the employee, so that if and when they need them, they can use them,” Mousiouttas said after a meeting of the Labor Advisory Body in Nicosia.
