Ministry of Education support program staff protest in Nicosia

On March 26, 2026, employees of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (YPAN) support programs held a 24-hour strike in Nicosia to protest against job insecurity. Protesters gathered at a parking lot near the PASYDY building before marching to the Presidential Palace to submit a memorandum to President Nikos Christodoulides. The workers' unions, including PASEY PEO and OEKDY SEK, are demanding the abolition of the current service-based employment status. Specifically, they seek the conversion of their contracts to open-ended status for all staff who have completed 30 months of service. The protesters argue that a government bill submitted to Parliament in December 2025 ignores union proposals and threatens hundreds of jobs. Furthermore, the unions contend that the bill contradicts national laws, European Union frameworks, and previous court rulings. The Progressive Movement of Teachers and Kindergarten Teachers has expressed support for the strike, calling for immediate dialogue between the government and employees. The strikers emphasized the social and pedagogical importance of their work while criticizing the lack of professional stability.