A fresh round of negotiations at the Labour Ministry ended in stalemate yesterday, deepening the crisis in the concrete and broader construction sector.
Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou’s latest mediation attempt failed after unions rejected his previous proposal.
The ongoing workers’ strike has halted numerous projects, with employers concerned about paying idle workers.
“The gap between the employers’ accepted positions and the unions’ demands remains wide, making reconciliation difficult under current circumstances”, Panayiotou said, noting the situation’s broader economic impact.
The employers, who had accepted the minister’s proposal for a 13.5% cost increase, now refuse further dialogue.
Industry sources indicate no immediate layoffs are planned, despite the costs of maintaining non-producing staff.
The Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturers Association stated that workers already receive among the country’s highest wages, with basic monthly salaries starting at €2,015 gross and potentially reaching €3,700 with overtime bonuses.
Union leaders counter that employers should restore concessions made during the 2013 financial crisis.
Striking workers plan to march to the Labour Ministry today, while the Federation of Employers and Industrialists has called an emergency construction sector meeting for Monday to address the crisis.
The dispute primarily centres on overtime compensation terms in the industry’s collective agreement.
