The construction industry came to a halt, following a decision of the Cyprus construction unions' members to go on a 48-hour strike on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd November. Cause for this first act of protest is the Employers’ refusal to renew or come into talks regarding the Collective agreements with the Construction Unions pending since 2010. The Employers call for non-payment of provident fund, repeal holidays and bonuses, an increase in working hours from 38 to 40 per week, elimination of overtime and reduction of wages by 30%.
In addition, construction workers are suffering from low unemployment caused by the standstill of development projects .as well as the employment of illegal immigrants by Employers.
On their side, the Employers’ Federation points out that the whole of the construction sector in Cyprus has suffered tremendously the past 3 years, with some Construction or related Companies being on borderline of their own survival. These times affect both the employers and the workers and the strike measures do not help solve the current problems.
Previous attempts for mediations talks through the Ministry of Labour, to have both Unions and Employers Federation come to an agreement have so far failed.