The government’s reform of the cost-of-living allowance (CoLA) is “a huge reform”, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday, just a day before a three-hour general strike called by the unions.

“The reform we are making with CoLA is huge, in the framework we have presented publicly. Reforms unavoidably lead to reactions. But the main criterion of our aim, of our policy on the specific issue, is to modernise the 1960 state, always to the benefit of the people,” he said.

Christodoulides pointed out that “all reforms, including tax, CoLA and pensions, always aim at serving the people, to whom we are accountable”.

“So, I am urging all to strengthen our effort even more regarding reforms. It is important that we move forward,” the president said.

Last week, Christodoulides made an appeal to both trade unions and employers, urging them to exercise patience in the face of ongoing differences in the context of the CoLA dispute.

On Tuesday, Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou said CoLA must be modernised so that it responds to society’s needs.

Final talks on Monday afternoon between unions, employers and the minister failed to find a solution to cancel the strike.

The strike, across private and public sectors, will start at 11am and continue until 2pm. Demonstrations of striking workers will be held in all towns.