Workers employed in Support Programmes run by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth will assemble at PASYDY headquarters at 9.30 am on 3 September before marching to the Presidential Palace.
The action was approved at a general assembly held on Monday, 24 August, amid concerns over delays in implementing legislation passed on 21 April 2026 and continuing employment problems, according to the PASEY-PEO and OEKDY-SEK trade unions.
In a joint statement, the unions called on the President of the Republic of Cyprus to intervene immediately and decisively.
Without income since June
The unions said the most urgent issue concerns employees on indefinite-term contracts who have completed 30 months of service but have been left without any income since June.
They noted that indefinite-term employees in other sectors can register as unemployed during periods when work is suspended or interrupted. These include employees of school boards, the tourism and hotel industry, municipalities, private schools and district administrations.
According to the unions, the Education Ministry has not applied the same practice to Support Programme workers, arguing that their employment has not been interrupted.
“If employment has indeed not been interrupted, the ministry should pay their salaries for that period,” the unions said.
Fewer than 100 workers face uncertainty
A second issue affects a group of fewer than 100 workers who have not completed 30 months of service in the same programme, despite having worked for several years in other programmes discontinued by the ministry following a policy decision.
The unions said their previous service is not being recognised and that they risk being denied even fixed-term contracts.
“Although there is a need and it has been agreed that additional fixed-term positions will be advertised, the ministry is citing a lack of funding and referring the matter to the 2027 Budget,” they added.
Unions demand immediate action
The unions also criticised what they described as an “unjustified delay” in organising the programmes and the absence of meaningful dialogue with workers’ representatives.
They are calling for:
- The immediate payment of unemployment benefit to eligible employees, or a political decision providing for 12-month salaries.
- The immediate implementation of the legislation regulating employment in the Support Programmes.
- The immediate advertisement of positions for employees who have not completed 30 months of service.
- Meaningful and timely dialogue with the trade unions.
Source: CNA
