Education minister addresses strike by support program staff

On Friday, October 30, 2026, the Cypriot Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Athena Michaelidou, stated that the government is exploring ways to address grievances from employees in support programs. Following the presentation of the Ministry’s 2027 budget to the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, the minister addressed plans by staff to escalate labor actions, including an indefinite strike starting Monday and a protest march to the Presidential Palace scheduled for next Thursday.

Minister Michaelidou characterized the strike as disproportionate, noting that the government has already met several demands over the past three years. The administration transitioned these employees from a service-purchase scheme to salaried employment, with most now holding indefinite contracts. Despite this, the workers are demanding unemployment benefits, a policy the minister claims is illegal and inconsistent with the wider public sector. The government maintains it is actively seeking a resolution to the remaining issues while emphasizing the progress already made for this specific workforce segment.