Transport unions suspend student services in Northern Cyprus

Student transportation services in Northern Cyprus will not commence on Monday, September 21, due to a failure to establish a legal framework and formal protocols between transport unions and the government.

The Cyprus Turkish Contemporary Public Vehicle Operators Association (Kar-İş) and the Public Transport Union have announced their decision to withhold services until a legal contract and preliminary protocol are signed. The unions argue that the Ministry of Finance is responsible for the lack of progress. Key demands from the transport groups include the legal status of student transport through renewed permits, the inclusion of afternoon transport in official contracts to guarantee payments, and the transfer of responsibility for student escorts from transporters to the state.

Kar-İş President Fuat Topaloğlu noted that the permits for approximately 300 to 350 vehicles have expired, meaning current operations lack legal standing. Additionally, a requested 40 percent fee increase has not been formalized.

Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu stated that the Ministry is prioritizing safe student transportation and has expressed openness to creating a new protocol. However, he criticized the unions for their decision to take action despite scheduled meetings, suggesting they are not seeking consensus.