A new 24-hour strike will take place on Monday, October 5, 2026, with a pan-Cypriot rally outside the Presidential Palace at 10:00 a.m. This was decided by employees of the Support Programs of the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth during a new Extraordinary General Assembly held on Tuesday.
According to a statement from the PASEY PEO and OEKDY SEK unions, the decision was made after it was determined that, despite the time allotted for dialogue and the repeated assurances given, none of the commitments made by the Minister of Education and the government have been fulfilled.
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“Employees in the Support Programs have suffered for years from the consequences of misguided policies and decisions,” the statement reads. Specifically, since 2012, they have been working under the service procurement system, which has deprived them of basic labor and social rights. After years of struggles by workers and labor unions, including strikes, protests, and legal proceedings, the service procurement system was abolished, and in 2026, the relevant legislation regulating employment in Support Programs was enacted.
“From the very beginning, we asked the Ministry of Education and the government, through dialogue and consultation, to promptly resolve all issues arising from the implementation of the new legislation,” the unions state, adding that “we clearly emphasized the need to safeguard workers’ income during periods when the programs are not in operation, the timely announcement of staffing needs to ensure the programs are properly staffed, and the protection of the jobs of workers who have served in these programs for years.”
However, as they report, despite repeated meetings, letters, and interventions, as well as commitments made by both the Minister of Education and the Government, the serious problems remain unresolved.
Hundreds of employees went without income for about four months, and to date, no definitive solution has been provided to guarantee their income during the period when the programs are not operating. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education has not proceeded with the process required by law for staffing the programs—KIE, EOS, and Training Centers, even though there is a need for staff and many employees who were previously employed will be left unemployed.
“We hear every day that this process will be delayed and that appointed staff will be asked to work overtime. In the EOS program, appointed staff have already been assigned overtime work. The employment of permanent staff in these programs is not provided for by law, nor is it morally right to drive program workers into unemployment while paying others overtime, which also costs the state more,” they note.
On September 3, 2026, the labor unions even appealed to the President of the Republic, requesting his intervention to definitively resolve the issue, either by guaranteeing unemployment benefits or by paying 12 months’ worth of salaries. To date, no substantive solution has been provided, and none of the commitments made have been fulfilled.
“It is unacceptable for workers to be called upon once again to bear the cost of delays, omissions, and decisions for which they bear no responsibility. They cannot continue to live with promises and commitments that remain merely on paper,” the unions state.
For this reason, the employees’ Extraordinary General Assembly unanimously decided to escalate their actions with a new 24-hour strike on Monday, October 5, 2026. As part of the strike, a pan-Cypriot rally will be held outside the Presidential Palace at 10:00 a.m.
“We call on all employees of the Support Programs to participate en masse and in an organized manner in the 24-hour strike and the rally. We demand the immediate fulfillment of commitments to meet additional needs through the immediate issuance of fixed-term contracts in all programs, including KIE Training Programs, EOS, SMEEK, music schools, etc.,” they note, calling for a policy decision to pay unemployment benefits to eligible recipients or to pay salaries, as is the case for permanent public school teachers.
Source: KYPE
