Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sega]

Hello all,

I have not been online for a while. I got this job and I work silly hours, not only that but I am currently developing a personal website which hardly leaves me any time.

Anyway, the reason I am posting a thread is to find out what all the commotion was about today. I was at work, initially I thought it was a parade, and to my amazement I saw a stampeed of presumably Pakistanies, or maybe even Indian, who were protesting. Most of which had billboards expressing their frustration. They were followed by Police as to cause as little disturbance as possible. They were all chanting "FREEDOM"

I could be mistaken, it could be TC instead of the Pakistanis/India's, but since they were very dark in colour, and wore somewhat Asian clothing, I would presume their were Indian/Pakistani.

After talking to a person at work he told me that they are students asking to be allowed to work in Cyprus. I thought this must be complete b*llcr*p. We all know for non-eu residence studying in Europe is very expensive. So why would a person paying x amount of thousands require the money from the well-paying Cypriots.

I believe these people are most likely opares, or the Sunday help who have probably been mistreated in some way or form. Who knows.

I would appreciate if you could all give your point of view in a sensible fashion.

[kurupetos]

They should be deported immediately.

[Sega]

I am not sure if they were angry at the Cypriot people, it's all confusing at this point. But the News are not reporting it what-so-ever. I don't know what it was all about.

[Bill]

Hello all,

After talking to a person at work he told me that they are students asking to be allowed to work in Cyprus. I thought this must be complete b*llcr*p. We all know for non-eu residence studying in Europe is very expensive. So why would a person paying x amount of thousands require the money from the well-paying Cypriots.

There was a article in the newspapers a while ago that unscupulous agents in India were stating that students could study in Cyprus and make a decent living whilst working during their stay here ~ obviously that decent living works out at a lot of money in their home country .

I think a lot of students have come to Cyprus firstly for the money they could make and the education which was an important but secondary consideration.

Sadly they soon found when they arrived here that the information they had been given was completely wrong and their dreams of not only getting a better education and the chance of making money to take back to India have been shattered ~~ It's not the Cyprus governments problem if the agents in India tell the students lies to get them to use their services ~~ quite often the students have had to borrow money in their own country to pay the agents to get them enrolled in the Cyprus educational system which makes their plight even more desperate.

I can understand why they are angry but they should direct that anger towards the agents in India who fooled them and not the government in Cyprus who only agreed to host them for their educational needs and not for employment.

Bill

[Raymanoff]

so are they allowed to work part time? i mean students from 3rd world countries?

[Sega]

Bill your words are wise. You are indeed thruthful. If you come to Cyprus for Education, it should remain for education. There anger should be directed at the agents of India, not the Cypriot government. It's ashame they fell for their lies but maybe now they will know that you cannot work and educate in Cyprus. Somebody at work stated that they are citizens and therefore should be entitled to work. I disagree, they are here not for work purposes. Any views on the matter? Do they gain citizenship after 4 years of living at one place.

[greek.god]

There is an EU directive which states that students enrolled in schools or universities in EU states are authorized to work regardless of nationality. Cyprus refuses to allow them to work...so they are protesting. Why does the initial poster refer to it as a "black protest".

Does he/she have something against people of color?

[LENA]

Greek-god, I think Sega said colour because he did not know their nationality and did not want to write Indian or TC in case he was wrong (he explain that in his first post).

At some point is not nice for the students that are poor and want to be educated not to be able to work but on the other hand as Bill said most of them comes for the money they can earn working here and not the education. Few years ago we had lots of students enrolled to Cyprus college that did not have to attend to classes and present themselves as students but they were working. I am not sure if Cyprus college changed their policies but i guess government is trying to do something about it.

A friend of mine from Pakistan was asking me if he is able to work as a student and when I ask him if he finally decide what he was going to study he said not yet but they told him that he could work which for him was more important and he wanted to know if its true or not.

[observer]

so are they allowed to work part time? i mean students from 3rd world countries?

As a student, on a student visa, I think that they are allowed to take a paid job for a limited number of hours. Sure no longer than 20 hrs, may be less. Applies to all non-EU students

[observer]

Could this be the answer to the original question?

Foreign students in pink slips protest

THE International Students Association of Cyprus (ISAC) yesterday morning organised a protest march at Solomos Square in Nicosia, demanding for an immediate solution to the pink slips issue.

Students want to travel for Easter or at least get stamped date permits on their passports just to legalise their document for travel , but due to the delay in accepting applications for new pink slips and renewal of old ones, this has resulted in students remaining without pink slips and therefore liable to arrest by the police.

The foreign students are demanding an end to the violation of their rights, which stops them from travelling out of the country or performing any legal action which requires a valid pink slip, and an immediate release of all students in police custody for invalid pink slip reasons or work issues.

Also regarding the delay of the implementation of the European Directive regarding work for foreign students, transposed in to the national law since December, students are asking the Ministry of Labour for a timeframe as to when a solution will be expected.



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