Cyprus public sector unions meet with government over wage demands

On September 25, 2026, representatives from the OEKDY SEK, PASYEK PEO, and DEE KDOKO DEOK unions are scheduled to meet with the Cypriot Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos, at 12:00. The discussion focuses on demands for salary improvements for hourly-paid government staff. The unions have explicitly linked the renewal of their collective bargaining agreement to these wage increases, asserting that employees require better pay to meet current living costs.

Stavros Andreou, General Secretary of PASYEK PEO, stated that the unions are relying on a previous commitment from the President of the Republic to address these wage needs. The meeting with the Minister of Finance is intended to outline positions and identify areas of convergence before a follow-up meeting with the President scheduled for next Monday. The unions maintain a firm stance, stating they will not renew the collective agreement without tangible wage growth.

Should there be no significant progress during the meetings with the Minister and the President, the unions have warned that they will announce industrial action as early as next Monday. The outcome of these discussions remains critical for the labor stability of the government's hourly-paid workforce.