Government to appeal court decision on salary cuts

Speaking at the 56th Pancyprian Public Servants Trade Union (PASYDY) Congress, President Anastasiades made it clear that the government would react to the court decisions that ruled that public sector salary cuts during the financial crisis in 2012 and onwards were unconstitutional.

Anastasiades said that he respect the court's decision as well as the right of civil servants to take the matter to court. However he argued when his government took over, the cash in state coffers ''was only enough for a month's salary''.

Earlier the General Secretary of PASYDY Galfkos Hadjipetrou said that the government knew that the law was unconstitutional and called on the government to uphold the court's ruling. 

While the President acknowledged the positive contribution of public sector workers to the recovery of the economy, he announced that the government will appeal the administrative court's decision and also request for suspension of the execution of the decision until the appeals court reaches its verdict.

''Respect is warranted for the right of any trade union to seek its interests but at the same time the government's right to defend state finances should also be respected'' said, President Anastasiades concluding his remarks.