Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou called for restraint from both employees and trade union representatives on Wednesday as workers in the concrete industry began an indefinite strike.
The strike was prompted by the collapse of negotiations over a new collective agreement, with unresolved disputes mainly focused on overtime pay.
In a statement, Panayiotou emphasised the importance of cooperation, urging both sides to approach the situation constructively and underlined “the value of social dialogue and social cooperation between workers, employers and the state”.
“Maintaining stability at home is crucial given the current global challenges,” the statement said. “Stability is essential for Cyprus’s economic growth and social cohesion.
On Tuesday Peo’s construction workers’ union secretary-general Michalis Papanicolaou explained that workers are seeking the renewal of the collective agreement, with demands including general wage increases and the reinstatement of overtime provisions.
Panayiotou said that substantial progress had been made in narrowing the differences between the two sides, with the main sticking point now being the rate of overtime pay.
However, he urged both parties to avoid further escalation, reminding them of their responsibility to preserve labour peace.
“The long-term responsibility of the social partners is necessary to preserve labour peace, and I believe it would be beneficial to avoid the continuation and escalation of the confrontation,” Panayiotou said.
Meanwhile, trade unions Sek, Peo, and Deok reported that workers across the sector had shown strong support for the strike, criticising employers for not honouring prior commitments on the collective agreement.
