Fight over fair pay for all Cypriots

[AP]

Cyprus is bracing for caller labour tensions arsenic the authorities pushes up with plans to widen the Automatic Cost-of-Living Allowance (ATA) to each workers, a pre-election pledge by President Nikos Christodoulides.

The scheme, which adjusts wages to lucifer inflation, is presently constricted to definite sectors under a transitional woody that expired successful June. The authorities present wants to legislate a universal version of the ATA with a sliding standard based connected earnings, giving lower- and middle-income workers bigger boosts.

Trade unions welcome the thought of broader sum but cull the government’s program for a gradual system, saying it undermines equality and the halfway intent of protecting purchasing power. They are besides aggravated that the authorities whitethorn propulsion the measure done Parliament without due κοινωνικά dialogue, warning they are acceptable to escalate strike enactment if their concerns are ignored.

Employer groups are furious, warning that the program will thrust up labour costs, worsen ostentation and wounded competitiveness, each without a due economical interaction study. They flatly garbage to instrumentality to talks while the universal ATA connection is connected the table.