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Public Tender Practices Under Scrutiny: Lawmakers Demand Audit Of Construction Collusion And Contract Inflation

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 10, 2025

Members of the Parliamentary Audit Committee have called on the General Auditor to investigate whether construction firms are engaging in collusion to secure government tenders and subsequently inflate project accounts at the taxpayer’s expense. This latest demand for accountability underscores growing concerns over the integrity of public procurement processes.

Concerns Over Regulatory Lapses And Accountability

Criticism has also been leveled by Committee Chair Zacharias Koulias and fellow legislators over the leniency shown towards companies implicated in bribery scandals involving public officials. Despite their admission of misconduct, these firms have not been barred from bidding on new public projects. Lawmakers have decried the rampant inflation of public project accounts, unacceptable delays, and the recurrent issue of contractors abandoning projects midstream yet retaining eligibility to bid on future contracts.

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New Measures And Improved Oversight

In a bid to enhance transparency, General Accountant Andreas Antoniadis announced the introduction of an exclusion registry last August. This registry is set to improve accountability, as government agencies awarding contracts will now have the capacity to rate and evaluate contractors based on their adherence to project obligations.

Case In Point: Lois Builders Ltd

One prominent example involves Lois Builders Ltd. Despite delaying projects significantly, the firm was allowed to bid on other public contracts. The data reveal that although Lois Builders Ltd was excluded from public projects during the 2021-2023 period, it was reinstated in 2024, raising further questions about the rigor of current exclusion protocols.

Market Concentration And Performance Metrics

The revelations come in the wake of a detailed report by the Audit Service investigating the allocation of public construction contracts. According to auditor Stalo Aristeidou, three major construction companies secured 40.8% of the public projects awarded between 2015 and 2024, accounting for 2,164 contracts valued at €2.5 billion. Specifically, Cyfield undertook 157 projects valued at approximately €564 million, Iacovou Brothers executed 84 projects worth €322 million, and Cybarco Ltd handled 40 projects at a value of nearly €141 million.

Delays And Bidding Process Inefficiencies

The report further noted that the average project contract spans 601 days, with delays averaging 461 days. Alarmingly, in 14.2% of the tenders, a single bid was submitted and subsequently accepted, essentially indicating de facto monopoly conditions in the bidding process.

The Implications Of Market Concentration

The analysis highlights a concerning trend: a substantial portion of public contract value is accumulated by a small group of contractors. This concentration is exemplified by the fact that three contractors—Cyfield, Iacovou, and Cybarco—were awarded only 13% of the overall number of contracts but accounted for nearly 41% of the total market value. In response, the President of the Competition Protection Committee noted that Cyfield’s 22% market share in managing public projects does not, by itself, signal an undue market dominance.

Conclusion

The unfolding debate over public tender practices and the role of regulatory oversight highlights significant vulnerabilities in the current procurement system. As the audit and proposed registry aim to tighten standards, enhanced accountability measures will be crucial in safeguarding the integrity of public spending and ensuring competitive fairness in the construction industry.

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Cyprus Income Distribution 2024: An In-Depth Breakdown of Economic Classes

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 24, 2025

New findings from the Cyprus Statistical Service offer a comprehensive analysis of the nation’s income stratification in 2024. The report, titled Population By Income Class, provides critical insights into the proportions of the population that fall within the middle, upper, and lower income brackets, as well as those at risk of poverty.

Income Distribution Overview

The data for 2024 show that 64.6% of the population falls within the middle income class – a modest increase from 63% in 2011. However, it is noteworthy that the range for this class begins at a comparatively low threshold of €15,501. Meanwhile, 27.8% of the population continues to reside in the lower income bracket (a figure largely unchanged from 27.7% in 2011), with nearly 14.6% of these individuals identified as at risk of poverty. The upper income class accounted for 7.6% of the population, a slight decline from 9.1% in 2011.

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Income Brackets And Their Thresholds

According to the report, the median equivalent disposable national income reached €20,666 in 2024. The upper limit of the lower income class was established at €15,500, and the threshold for poverty risk was set at €12,400. The middle income category spans from €15,501 to €41,332, while any household earning over €41,333 is classified in the upper income class. The median equivalents for each group were reported at €12,271 for the lower, €23,517 for the middle, and €51,316 for the upper income classes.

Methodological Insights And Comparative Findings

Employing the methodology recommended by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the report defines the middle income class as households earning between 75% and 200% of the national median income. In contrast, incomes exceeding 200% of the median classify households as upper income, while those earning below 75% fall into the lower income category.

Detailed Findings Across Income Segments

Upper Income Class: Comprising 73,055 individuals (7.6% of the population), this group had a median equivalent disposable income of €51,136. Notably, the share of individuals in this category has contracted since 2011.
Upper Middle Income Segment: This subgroup includes 112,694 people (11.7% of the population) with a median income of €34,961. Combined with the upper income class, they represent 185,749 individuals.
Middle Income Group: Encompassing 30.3% of the population (approximately 294,624 individuals), this segment reports a median disposable income of €24,975.
Lower Middle And Lower Income Classes: The lower middle income category includes 22.2% of the population (211,768 individuals) with a median income of €17,800, while the lower income class accounts for 27.8% (267,557 individuals) with a median income of €12,271.

Payment Behaviors And Economic Implications

The report also examines how income levels influence repayment behavior for primary residence loans or rental payments. Historically, households in the lower income class have experienced the greatest delays. In 2024, 27.0% of those in the lower income bracket were late on payments—a significant improvement from 34.6% in 2011. For the middle income class, late payments were observed in 9.9% of cases, down from 21.4% in 2011. Among the upper income class, only 3% experienced delays, compared to 9.9% previously.

This detailed analysis underscores shifts in income distribution and repayment behavior across Cyprus, reflecting broader economic trends that are critical for policymakers and investors to consider as they navigate the evolving financial landscape.