Workplace bullying is, unfortunately, prevalent in Cyprus, with significant implications for safety, quality of life, and dignity.

This conclusion comes from a large public opinion survey conducted on behalf of SEK by IMR Company/University of Nicosia.

According to the survey results, presented at a press conference last Friday, seven out of ten workers believe that employees in Cyprus face workplace harassment, while one in two admit to having personally experienced workplace bullying.

The degree of tension experienced by victims of workplace bullying is also significant, reaching very worrying and dangerous levels. SEK publicly denounces these unacceptable practices, which occur not only in the private sector but also in the public sector, leading to dismissals or forced resignations for both men and women.

Salaries

Another major problem faced by workers in Cyprus today is the level of salaries. In response to a relevant question, 83% of respondents claim that the most significant issue today is low salaries. Combined with rising inflation and price increases, this puts considerable strain on consumers' wallets.

Additionally, 31% of respondents support the need to increase the minimum salary. (The survey was conducted last April, before the decision to introduce the National Minimum Salary was announced.)

Recommendations

For the effective management of all issues identified by the research, SEK submitted specific corrective recommendations. SEK's Secretary General, Andreas F. Matsas, stated at the press conference that resolving such issues promptly and correctly requires cooperation from social partners and serious commitment from the entire state. He emphasized that the welfare state is currently being tested.