Sek’s secretary general, Andreas Matsas, has labelled the government’s recent announcement regarding the universal application of the cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA) a “publicity stunt.” He argues that it lacks concrete proposals and merely serves to distract from ongoing discussions.
- The union remains open to continuing dialogue, but Matsas emphasised that any further discussions cannot restart from scratch, given the extensive engagement that has already taken place.
In remarks to the Cyprus News Agency, Matsas expressed concern over President Nikos Christodoulides’ statement that discussions on CoLA should commence, highlighting that negotiations have been ongoing for months but have yet to yield results.
“The government’s announcement merely indicates an intention to extend CoLA universally, without detailing specific plans or methods for implementation,” Matsas said. He suggested that the move appears more about staving off further industrial action than offering a genuine solution to the cost-of-living crisis.
Highlighting the stagnation in discussions, Matsas revealed that the anticipated timeline for progress has lapsed by over two and a half months, despite unions previously granting extensions to the labour ministry. He pointed out that repeated efforts to advance the process have been met with failure.
“If the government genuinely intends to implement universal application of CoLA, it has existing mechanisms to do so,” Matsas noted. He proposed options such as incorporating CoLA into the minimum wage decree, extending collective agreements to all workers, or providing tax incentives for employers who adopt CoLA.
Matsas also addressed the concerns voiced by employer organisations, advocating for careful preparation and discussion rather than what he characterised as “amateurish publicity stunts” that create a temporary impression without sustainable outcomes.
The union remains open to continuing dialogue, but Matsas emphasised that any further discussions cannot restart from scratch, given the extensive engagement that has already taken place.
