Cyprus faces a general strike this Thursday, as negotiations over the automatic cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA) remain deadlocked ahead of planned 11 September strike action.
Labour Ministry data show workplace disputes continue rising, with annual strike activity showing upward trends. Negotiations between Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou and employer and trade union representatives have not resolved disagreements over the cost-of-living adjustment.
The scheduled general strike expects participation from workers from the public sector, the broader public sector, semi-governmental organisations and segments of the private sector, tourism and construction industries.
Labour ministry statistics show persistent industrial relations challenges
Cyprus previously experienced a general strike in January 2023, again over the automatic cost-of-living adjustment, resulting in a three-hour work stoppage affecting public and semi-governmental sectors.
That action represented Cyprus’s first general strike in 79 years, following a 1944 work stoppage during British colonial administration over cost-of-living index provisions. The 1944 action resulted in expanded worker protections.
Subsequent significant strikes have addressed diverse issues including political matters, education policy, construction sector conditions and banking industry disputes. Recent years have seen tourism sector workers pursuing compliance with existing agreements.
Historical strike data
Labour Ministry statistics from 2004-2023 show peak industrial disputes occurred in 2013 with 280 recorded cases, 47 proceeding to strike action, coinciding with Cyprus’s economic adjustment programme period. Worker participation reached 44,089 individuals.
Subsequent annual data recorded: 2014 – 229 disputes with 43 strikes involving 23,741 workers and 29,670 lost work hours; 2015 – 228 disputes with 31 strikes involving 6,393 workers; 2016 – 177 disputes with 14 strikes; 2017 – 150 disputes with 16 strikes involving 14,144 workers total, 5,074 participating in actual strikes, resulting in 3,990 lost work hours.
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