Cypriot unions mark May Day with demands for labour reforms and social protection

On May 1, 2026, major Cypriot trade unions, including PEO, SEK, and DEOK, marked International Workers' Day by highlighting ongoing labor and social issues. PEO emphasized the need for a solution to the Cyprus problem and criticized wars and exploitation, advocating for a bizonal, bicommunal federation. Their economic demands include wage increases, broader coverage of collective agreements, the abolition of the 12 percent pension penalty, and the elimination of double taxation on fuel and energy. Meanwhile, SEK focused on economic challenges, warning against rising living costs and the decline in purchasing power despite positive national economic trends. They urged for collective agreements to cover 80 percent of the workforce and for the universal application of the Cost of Living Allowance (ATA) in the private sector. Both unions expressed concerns regarding the deregulation of the labor market and stressed the importance of protecting workers' rights during the 2026 Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union. DEOK held its commemorative event in Nicosia on the previous evening, while other unions scheduled events on May 1st to honor the historical labor struggles that began in Chicago in 1886.