Trade unions on Thursday called for better training of delivery drivers, following a meeting between union representatives, representatives of the employers’ and industrialists’ federation (OEV), and food delivery companies Bolt, Foody and Wolt.

Trade unionists were at the meeting represented by Ompege, Sek, and Peo, with Sek saying the meeting allowed for “a joint effort to exchange views on the safety of workers in the distribution sector”.

In addition to the matter of better training, the discussion also highlighted “the importance of road safety and the need to protect distributors”.

“Special reference was also made to the serious issue of attacks against distributors,” Sek said.

As such, it added, those at the meeting said that “competent state bodies” will be invited to the next meeting on the matter of delivery drivers, “so that proposals and ideas could be put forward” to better protect delivery drivers from attacks.

Assaults on delivery drivers committed by members of the public have been an ongoing issue in Cyprus, and particularly in Limassol, in recent months, with Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis having said last October that he was he was “seriously concerned” over the matter.

A month later, police chief Themistos Arnaoutis said the matter is “a serious and concerning phenomenon”.

“Beyond the offence, it also has a racist element,” he added.

Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou said at the time that all workers have the right to feel safe at work.

“Such behaviours have no place in our country, which victimise the vulnerable and weak employees, particularly when there is a racist element in these cases.”