Workers employed in the Support Programmes of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth have decided to escalate industrial action, with trade unions PASEY PEO and OEKDY SEK announcing an indefinite strike from Monday, 2 November 2026.
The decision was taken by an extraordinary general assembly of employees and comes amid ongoing disputes over the implementation of legislation regulating employment in the programmes.
A major protest march has also been scheduled for Thursday, 5 November, beginning at the Ministry of Finance and ending at the Presidential Palace.
Unions accuse ministry of failing to implement the law
According to the unions, the escalation follows the continued failure to implement legislation approved by parliament on 21 April 2026, which regulates employment conditions and staffing procedures in the Support Programmes.
The unions argue that, although the legislation was introduced by the government itself, the Ministry of Education has not applied the staffing procedures provided for under the law across all programmes.
They claim that this has left some employees unemployed, while positions intended to be filled by fixed-term staff are instead being covered through overtime work by existing employees.
Workers allegedly left without income
The unions also raised concerns over the payment of workers whose employment has not officially been terminated.
According to PASEY PEO and OEKDY SEK, repeated efforts to resolve the issue have failed because the government has continuously postponed taking a political decision on the matter.
As a result, they say, some employees have been left without income for five months, while also being unable to access unemployment benefits, further worsening their financial situation.
Demands and protest plans
The unions are calling for:
- Immediate implementation of the legislation.
- Fulfilment of government commitments.
- Protection of workers' employment rights.
- Safeguarding of the income of affected employees.
Through the planned march to the Presidential Palace on 5 November, workers aim to increase pressure on the government to adopt what they describe as definitive solutions.
PASEY PEO and OEKDY SEK have urged all employees in the Support Programmes to participate in both the indefinite strike and the protest action, stressing that industrial measures will continue until meaningful solutions are found.
