The KTAMS union in the north has announced the suspension of strike action planned for 17 February, after salaries were paid to employees of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) before the end of the working day.
The decision followed a protest outside the 'finance ministry' attended by CMP employees who had gone unpaid for 46 days.
KTAMS president Guven Bengihan alleged during the demonstration that the 'finance minister', Ozdemir Berova, had created obstacles by refusing to accept the signature of the 'undersecretary' of the 'presidency' for the approval of the payments.
Bengihan described the stance as politically motivated, arguing that 52 employees were being victimised. He said the workers have been providing services under a “purchase of services” arrangement for 20 years, without receiving the necessary employment benefits.
He also criticised the Turkish Cypriot representative on the CMP, Hakki Muftizade, accusing him of indifference, and expressed dissatisfaction with the position taken by Tufan Erhurman on the matter.
The union had warned that if the issue was not resolved immediately, industrial action would escalate.