The plenum on Thursday gave the nod to a 1.5 per cent pay rise to public-sector employees, based on a deal struck in July between trade unions and the government.
The government bill for the pay hike passed with a majority of votes. Opposition Disy, Elam, the Greens, Akel MP Irini Charalambidou and Edek MP Costis Efstathiou voted against.
The pay rise, which kicks in immediately, also applies for the month of October.
The 1.5 per cent raise in question is a ‘general increase’ – a fixed percentage increase that applies to all employees in the government and broader public sector. The last such general increase was given 15 years ago.
It applies to salaries and pensions alike. The beneficiaries are all public-sector workers, whether full-time or part-time employees.
The boost to salaries, depending on a person’s pay scale, ranges from €28 to €65 a month.
The increase also applies to judges and to the attorney-general. It does not apply to the president, ministers, MPs, mayors and other officials.
Independently of the general increase, public-sector workers also receive automatic annual pay increments, where the percentage increase depends on a person’s pay scale. They also receive Cost of Living Allowance.
