Social welfare service workers staged a two-hour work stoppage on Thursday, from 11.30am till 1.30pm, to protest the “targeting of social welfare service workers” following the alleged abuse case of five children in a livestock facility in Dromolaxia, Larnaca, that went public last week.

Isotita trade union said it also opposed the launch of the administrative investigation decided on by deputy welfare ministry on Wednesday that aims to examine the how the service had dealt with the case before it came to light. 

“The targeting of our colleagues continues, while an administrative investigation has been launched. The responsibility for the pathologies of the system belongs exclusively to the state and its administration and we won’t allow the transfer of responsibilities to professionals who selflessly serve society,” the union said.

Calling on “all colleagues” to participate in the strike, the union said it would make use of all legal means to protect its members.

The strike comes after local media reported that fellow villagers had turned to the social welfare service to report the alleged abuse of the children before the case was made public, suggesting that the service had not taken sufficient measures to protect the children.