In Cyprus, civil servants with low salaries are on strike

In Cyprus, government employees with low salaries have begun a 48-hour strike. Striking public sector workers gathered near the Presidential Palace with banners and handed a memorandum with their demands to the head of the state.

The protest action was organized on Monday by the Isotita Union ("Equality"). From the Presidential Palace, the participants of the picket headed towards the Ministry of Finance. In their statement, the union declared that the high cost of living has pushed low-income workers to the limit of their capabilities.

Union leaders called today a "significant milestone in the workers' struggle for a decent salary and, consequently, decent living conditions."

"The salary of around 1100–1300 euros after 15–20 years of work is humiliating and insufficient to provide decent living conditions for workers and their families," demonstrators were quoted as saying by Cyprus Mail.

Previously, low-paid workers in the public sector expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed salary adjustment, which had been agreed upon with the president but was met with another counterproposal.

It is also noted that on Monday, the Ministry of Finance is expected to announce its final position on the issue of low salaries.

According to the three main unions participating in the salary negotiations – Pasydy, Sek, and Peo – after the government's statement on the status of low-paid public servants, they will gather on Tuesday to make necessary decisions.