Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on Monday expressed the conviction that social partners would contribute to reaching compromise agreements with a direct positive impact for workers and guaranteeing their rights, which is also what the State seeks, he said, noting that the Government’s recent compromise proposal for the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) aimed at this direction.

In a written statement to mark the International Workers' Day, President Christodoulides states that, “today we honour the anniversary of Labour Day as a reminder of the importance of the social struggles that led to safeguarding workers' rights.”

He said that, the State must ensure that working conditions are safe and dignified, that salaries are fair and satisfactory, that rules are applied and that laws are adhered to without any discrimination, adding that, Cyprus has a long history of industrial peace, due to, among other things, “the high sense of responsibility and the maturity of the social partners who adopt decisions and policies, which over time respond to the needs of society and the abilities of the economy.”

President Christodoulides expressed “strong conviction”, that, “at this difficult time”, the social partners will act accordingly, and compromise agreements will be reached “with a direct positive impact for the workers and for guaranteeing their rights, just as the State seeks, through the efforts it makes with the recent compromise proposal for COLA, which aims in this direction”.

Workers on Monday are honouring the International Workers' Day throughout the country.

SEK trade union had organised an event at its headquarters in Nicosia, addressed by its General Secretary Andreas Matsas and Labour Minister, Yiannis Panayiotou, in the presence of House President, Annita Demeriou, MPs and other officials.

PEO trade union is holding a march and a bicommunal event in the afternoon in Nicosia. The union’s General Secretary Sotiroula Charalambous but also AKEL leader Stefanos Stafanou, will address the event, while attendees will march to the football pitch in the Ledra Palace buffer zone area to meet with the march organised by Turkish Cypriot unions, followed by a concert by bicommunal band “Rock for Peace – Solidarity, Reunification Social Justice”.