Government fears “flare-up” over five unresolved labour disputes

Economy LabourTop Newstrade unionsworkers' rights Government fears “flare-up” over five unresolved labour disputes Government Fears Flare Up Over Five Unresolved Labour Disputes Relevant News Government fears “flare-up” over five unresolved labour disputes 27 July 2026 Tax reform favours high earners despite fairness goal, study finds 27 July 2026 Erhürman to meet Holguín today ahead of Guterres visit 27 July 2026 Angelos Angelodimou 27 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Senior government figures, particularly within the Labour Ministry, are worried that several labour disputes remain unresolved and could “flare up” at any moment. Following the Municipalities’ announcement of a protest-work stoppage on August 3, and EAC workers’ decision to push their planned strike action back to September, three other major labour disputes remain unsettled: one involving hourly-paid public servants, one involving petrol station owners, and one involving so-called “rental workers” in the hotel and construction industries. Municipalities The Union of Municipalities’ Board of Directors rejected the Interior Ministry’s state funding proposal as unsatisfactory a few days ago and decided on a series of escalating measures, starting with a three-hour protest stoppage on August 3. “The government’s proposal doesn’t primarily hurt the municipalities, it hurts residents. Inadequate funding limits municipalities’ ability to offer quality services, carry out new projects and genuinely improve citizens’ daily lives and quality of life,” the Union of Municipalities said in a statement. EAC EAC’s trade unions have announced they are suspending the industrial action they had planned for September, citing what they described in a statement as “the difficult conditions currently affecting the country’s electricity system.” EPOPAI, SIDIKEK, SEPAIK and SYVAIK said in a joint statement that the disruption suffered by consumers from periodic power cuts stems from state negligence and the failure of independent institutions to secure adequate electricity supply. The unions had raised three main concerns: electricity adequacy, security of energy supply, and lower electricity costs for consumers. “Rented workers” Both the hotel and construction industries are a simmering pot over the issue of so-called “rental workers.” SEK and PEO sent a letter to the Labour Ministry a few days ago, calling on officials to take action, saying the growing numbers of these workers is a cause for concern. What are “rental workers”? According to complaints raised by the unions, private employment agencies, possibly working in coordination with employers, bring foreign workers into the country registered as domestic helpers, cleaners or under other job categories, then “rent” them out temporarily to hotels and construction contractors, without contracts and on wages that don’t reflect Cypriot standards. Unions in the hotel and construction sectors have warned that they will move to industrial action if the problem isn’t resolved. Petrol station owners The issue remains unresolved despite a protest march petrol station owners held at the Presidential Palace a few days ago, where they handed in a memorandum calling on the President to intervene. Petrol station owners have already warned they’ll return with fresh industrial action if the government doesn’t respond. The dispute centres on the enforcement of legislation, based on an EU directive, requiring tankers to use the ADR system. That system allows fuel supply to be cut off to vehicles carrying dangerous goods in the event of an accident. Hourly-paid workers Hourly-paid government staff recently held the first island-wide 24-hour strike of its kind, in an effort to pressure the government, and the Finance Ministry in particular, into negotiating their demands. No progress appears to have been made so far, and hourly-paid workers have already warned that industrial action will escalate and take a more forceful form. According to the OEKDY-SEK, PASYEK-PEO and DEE KDOKO-DEOK trade unions, the government has given no concrete answer to workers’ most important demand: wage increases. The unions say hourly-paid workers have received only one pay rise in the last 17 years, of around 1.5%, as part of general increases granted across the public sector. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Tax reform favours high earners despite fairness goal, study finds Erhürman to meet Holguín today ahead of Guterres visit Battery storage to reach Cyprus by early 2027, minister says Things to do on Monday, July 27 Phedonos rape trial begins today in Paphos Criminal Court Two explosions reported in overnight Limassol attacks How the President will approach talks with the UN chief and Turkish Cypriot leader Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.