President pays tribute to workers on May Day

President Nikos Christodoulides marked International Workers’ Day with a message of appreciation, honouring the struggles that laid the foundation for modern labour rights and reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving conditions for workers across Cyprus.

“May Day is a day of remembrance and tribute to the efforts and sacrifices that secured labour rights,” the President said in a written statement. “I extend my appreciation and respect to all workers.”

Christodoulides noted that the government walks “side by side with those who labour, produce and create” – and is striving to ensure that everyone receives their fair share of the country’s growth, within a framework of economic security and job stability.

He highlighted the progress made during the government’s first two years in office, stressing that these outcomes reflect a strong emphasis on improving the labour market and the everyday lives of people.

These include, the statement read, the achievement of near full employment, with the lowest unemployment rate in decades and the highest employment levels on record, alongside efforts to improve wage adequacy by reducing the number of low-paid workers and strengthening the middle class.

The president also cited the renewal of major collective agreements through dialogue and the steady enhancement of vocational training programmes with a focus on green and digital skills to meet the demands of a changing economy.

He referred to improvements in social insurance benefits, such as extended maternity leave, broadened parental leave and increased birth allowances, aimed at supporting working parents.

To safeguard workers’ rights, Christodoulides said his administration had toughened labour laws, increased inspections and adopted new technologies to enforce legislation and curb undeclared work.

At the same time, the framework for workplace safety has been upgraded to better protect workers from extreme weather, ensure the safe handling of hazardous materials and require compulsory safety training on construction sites.

“These are significant achievements for working people,” he said, “but more must be done – and we are moving forward with in that direction.”

Looking ahead, Christodoulides said the government plans to introduce further reforms, including modernisation of the pension system, an overhaul of the cost of living allowance (CoLA), improvements to employment regulation, and the extension of collective bargaining.

“For our administration, the legitimate demands of workers remain at the forefront of our priorities,” Christodoulides concluded. “We are committed to responsible policies that go beyond slogans and result in real outcomes.”