The Coordinating Body of Public Sector Organisations and Associations (SYFOKY) is pressing for the removal of the cut, which has been in place since early 2012. The body includes PASYDY, education unions OELMEK, OLTEK and POED, as well as the Cyprus Police Association, the Association of Senior Police Officers and the Firefighters’ Association.
At the same time, unions are also raising the issue of abolishing the actuarial reduction applied to pension benefits when employees choose early retirement from the public and wider public sector.
The two demands were agreed at SYFOKY’s latest meeting on 22 May.
Cut no longer justified
Member organisations argue that the continued application of the 10% reduction to starting salaries is no longer justified.
They describe the measure as unfair, saying it disproportionately affects lower‑paid and younger employees, while acting as a deterrent to filling entry‑level posts in scales A2, A5 and A7 in the public sector. According to their assessment, salaries in the lowest grades are brought close to the level of the national minimum wage.
The reduction applies for the first 24 months of service, after which the employee moves to the starting point of the relevant salary scale.
Pension issue also raised
On the issue of pension rights, unions are calling for the removal of the actuarial reduction imposed on retirement benefits in cases of voluntary early retirement.
PASYDY has already placed the issue on the agenda of the Joint Staff Committee, while SYFOKY has submitted a formal request to the Finance Minister seeking a meeting to present its position.
PASYDY and the other organisations intend to raise both issues directly with Finance Minister Makis Keravnos, calling for dialogue aimed at resolving the matter.
