Northern Cyprus union chief strongly demands an immediate review of the minimum wage

The chairman of the Cyprus Workers’ Trade Unions Federation (Hür-İş), Ahmet Serdaroğlu, issued an official appeal to the secretary general of the National Unity Party (UBP), Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu. The union leader urged the ruling party to take the initiative and convene the Minimum Wage Determination Commission as soon as possible to review payments to workers.
Serdaroğlu emphasized that, amid continuously rising prices and high inflation, the purchasing power of salaried workers is falling dramatically day by day. According to him, delaying the convening of the commission is pushing workers and their families to the brink of survival, so the authorities must listen to the voice of the unions and immediately begin discussing new figures.
In his appeal, the Hür-İş leader also noted that the current level of the minimum wage has long no longer matched the real cost of living on the island. He added that the unions are ready for constructive dialogue, but expect the government and employer representatives to understand the full seriousness of the economic situation and be ready to take real steps to support workers.
In conclusion, Serdaroğlu expressed hope that Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu and the UBP leadership would not remain indifferent to this appeal. He warned that if workers’ demands for convening the negotiation table are ignored, the unions reserve the right to use all lawful methods of struggle, including mass protest actions.