Police face the most stringent sick leave checks in the public sector as the government proposes reforms aimed at tightening controls on absenteeism across the civil service.
- Police face the most stringent sick leave checks in the public sector as the government proposes reforms aimed at tightening controls on absenteeism across the civil service.
- Officials have assured that any reforms will specifically target proven misuse and will not impact those whose health conditions genuinely prevent them from fulfilling their duties.
Union officials expressed concern that these reforms must not undermine the rights of employees with legitimate medical issues. Stratis Mattheou, the secretary general of Pasydy, emphasised the union’s support for measures addressing sick leave abuse, while insisting on the importance of protecting existing rights for workers with chronic illnesses.
“We are in favour of combating abuses. We are clearly with the minister on the issue of the abuse of sick leave,” Mattheou told the Cyprus News Agency. He highlighted that any changes should be approached through consultation rather than being imposed unilaterally.
Andreas Elia, representing Sek, echoed this sentiment, asserting that reforms should not lead to the unfair targeting of workers. “It would be wrong to victimise certain people,” he stated, mentioning that some organisations already utilise occupational doctors to independently assess sick leave requests.
Under the current framework, police officers are already subjected to more rigorous scrutiny than their public sector counterparts. Any officer who takes sick leave is required to provide a special medical certificate from their doctor, detailing the diagnosis of their condition. In cases where there are “reasonable questions” regarding an officer’s absence, police directors can authorise home inspections to ensure compliance with medical instructions, and surprise checks may also be conducted.
Nikos Loizides, a spokesman for the Isotita union’s police branch, voiced his criticism of claims suggesting that police sick leave protocols have loopholes. He described such assertions as a “government spectacle for applause.” Loizides argued that police officers already face excessive control over sick leave, which infringes upon their individual rights, even constitutionally.
He pointed out that police officers do not benefit from the eight uncertified sick days available to other public sector employees, labelling the existing regulations as not only dictatorial but also in violation of European labour standards.
Justice Minister Costas Fitiris is spearheading the legislative amendments aimed at reforming sick leave within the civil service. These proposed changes follow reports of prolonged absenteeism among civil servants, although government officials have clarified that the focus remains on addressing abuse rather than penalising those with genuine medical conditions.
Under the current civil service sick leave system, employees are entitled to up to 42 days of sick leave before being referred to a medical board. If necessary, this leave can be extended by an additional six months on full pay, followed by a further six months on half pay. However, the government has noted that the existing framework has allowed some employees to exploit the system, taking brief returns to work before re-entering the sick leave process.
Officials have assured that any reforms will specifically target proven misuse and will not impact those whose health conditions genuinely prevent them from fulfilling their duties.
