Unions in northern Cyprus oppose government privatization plans

Erhan Arikli, the transport minister in northern Cyprus, has proposed the privatization of ports, telecommunications, and the electricity authority, citing the Ercan Airport management as a successful model. Trade union representatives, including Ali Yeltekin of Hür-İş and Ediz Kanatlı of Güç-Sen, have strongly opposed these plans. Critics argue that privatization threatens public assets, economic security, and strategic infrastructure by transferring control to foreign companies. Yeltekin noted that the Ercan Airport operator benefited from the write-off of approximately 1.5 billion Turkish Lira in debt, which the administration failed to collect. Additionally, union officials raised concerns regarding the status of 180 port workers in Famagusta and Kyrenia, stating that their collective agreements have been ignored and their current working decrees expired in April. The unions characterize the government's approach as short-sighted and detrimental to public interest.