Politis

Trade Unions Demand Minimum Wage Change and Meeting with President

Published January 2, 2026, 15:17
Trade Unions Demand Minimum Wage Change and Meeting with President

Trade unions SEK, PEO, and DEOK are set to deliver a memorandum to the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, with four requests, the first and main of which is a change to the decree on the minimum wage, so that it is set at a higher level. They are also requesting a private meeting with the President to present their arguments. The memorandum includes an adjustment of the minimum wage and the incorporation of a provision for its hourly compensation, as the unions argue that the current amount does not meet the needs of vulnerable workers and is lower compared to 2024. The issue of hourly compensation will also be discussed at the Labour Advisory Body on January 9th. In addition, the unions are calling for a review of the employment strategy for workers from third countries, as they believe the existing framework creates distortions. They also propose measures to expand collective bargaining agreements, in accordance with EU directives, and to apply collective agreements to companies that enter into contracts with the state. Finally, they are calling for the acceleration of the implementation of the "Ergani 2" system, which will allow for better monitoring of conditions in the labour market and the prevention of undeclared work. The overall aim of the requests is to improve working conditions and protect the rights of workers.