Negotiations to end the labour crisis in the cement works have reached a deadlock, with aftershocks to be felt across the economy, Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou said on Thurdsay.
Panayiotou led a new meeting on Thursday with the employers and trade unions in a bid to bridge the gap between the two sides who would ultimately sign a collective agreement.
“It seems that the distance between the positions the employers’ side accepted, which are included in the mediation proposal submitted and then rejected by the trade union side – which returned to its initial positions – is large,” he said, adding that finding a solution would be “difficult”.
The two sides were asked to reevaluate their stance and explore other options that may be helpful in restoring normality, he said.
Panayiotou said another meeting would be held later on Thursday in an effort to reach common ground.
