Workers employed in the Support Programmes of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth have launched an indefinite strike from Monday, 2 November, demanding the implementation of employment legislation and the protection of their income and labour rights.
According to a joint announcement issued last Friday by the PASΕY-PEO and OEKDY-SEK trade unions, workers will also stage a large demonstration and march on Thursday, 5 November, from the Ministry of Finance to the Presidential Palace.
The unions say the mobilisation aims to demand the immediate implementation of government commitments and the protection of workers’ rights and income.
Unions accuse Education Ministry of failing to implement law
The unions said workers had been driven to strike action because the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth continues to fail to implement legislation introduced by the Government itself and approved by Parliament on 21 April 2026.
According to the announcement, the law regulating employment in the Support Programmes provides for specific staffing arrangements, but the Ministry has not applied them across all programmes.
The unions claim this has left several workers unemployed, while positions intended for fixed-term employees are instead being filled by appointed staff working overtime.
Workers claim they have gone months without income
The unions also accused the Government of repeatedly postponing a political decision on how to address the payment of workers whose employment has not been terminated.
They said the continued delays have left some employees without income, without access to unemployment benefits and without payment for five months.
Despite repeated efforts by the unions to resolve the issue, no decision has been reached, according to the announcement.
The unions have called on all employees in the Support Programmes to participate in the indefinite strike and Thursday’s demonstration.
Demonstration planned for Thursday
The planned march will take place on Thursday, 5 November, starting at the Ministry of Finance and ending at the Presidential Palace.
Workers are demanding that the Government honour its commitments, implement the legislation and resolve outstanding employment and payment issues.
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