Dialogos

Trade Unions to Submit Joint Memorandum to President on Minimum Wage and Collective Bargaining

Published January 2, 2026, 13:02
Trade Unions to Submit Joint Memorandum to President on Minimum Wage and Collective Bargaining

PEO, SEK, and DEOK are planning to submit a joint memorandum to the President of the Republic regarding three key issues. First, the hourly calculation of the minimum wage, seeking to address existing distortions. Second, the need for an action plan to expand collective bargaining agreements, ensuring better working conditions. Third, the problems observed in the process of issuing work permits to workers from third countries, especially regarding the criteria employers must meet. The General Secretary of PEO expressed strong dissatisfaction with statements made by the Minister of Labor regarding the hourly calculation of the minimum wage, emphasizing that the issue had been raised repeatedly and in writing to the ECM Adjustment Committee. PEO calls on the Minister and the Government to admit that they do not wish to implement the hourly calculation. Furthermore, PEO points out the existence of an agreement from the 1990s to gradually reduce working hours from 42 to 38, an agreement to which both trade unions and employer organizations had agreed. Sotiroula Charalambous called on the Minister of Labor to acknowledge that the issue of hourly calculation had been raised repeatedly, either in writing or verbally, and to not deny reality.