Social services officers to hold 24-hour warning strike

Social services officers in Cyprus are set to participate in a 24-hour warning strike on Friday, October 23, 2026. Organized by the ISOTITA trade union, the action aims to protest against chronic issues within the Social Welfare Services, including severe understaffing, unmanageable caseloads, excessive bureaucracy, and inadequate workplace security. A protest gathering is scheduled for 09:00 outside the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.

Workers argue that despite a decade of promises regarding restructuring and modernization, the situation has steadily deteriorated, resulting in poor service quality for vulnerable citizens. The union emphasizes that social needs are becoming increasingly complex while staff lack the necessary resources to respond effectively. Employees are now demanding immediate, concrete solutions or binding commitments from the government to address these structural failures by the upcoming Christmas season.

This strike serves as a culmination of years of failed negotiations and ignored interventions. The union officials maintain that they can no longer be complicit in a system that fails both the employees and the citizens they are meant to protect. They are calling for four specific measures to decongest the services and ensure a safer, more professional working environment moving forward.