Civil servants will now have the opportunity to work from home, albeit with the requirement of obtaining permission from their superiors, under a new bill regulating teleworking.
- Civil servants will now have the opportunity to work from home, albeit with the requirement of obtaining permission from their superiors, under a new bill regulating teleworking.
The proposed legislation, discussed in parliament on Monday, introduces a mixed teleworking model, also known as hybrid work. This allows employees to divide their time between remote work and their physical office.
A finance ministry official explained that this initiative is part of a broader reform aimed at modernising the public sector, in line with Cyprus’ Recovery and Resilience plan. “We are within the timetables relating to the specific milestone of reform of the public sector and the disbursement of the tranche from the Recovery and Resilience Fund,” the official stated.
The need for such work arrangements became evident during the coronavirus pandemic, exposing the civil service’s lack of preparedness for remote working. The bill aims to address this gap by promoting digital skills and enhancing the work-life balance for civil servants.
To qualify for teleworking, employees must have duties compatible with remote work, as determined by the head of each department or agency. However, employees engaged in shift work will not be eligible, as their roles necessitate physical presence at the workplace.
Furthermore, civil servants wishing to work from home must be provided with an office computer. Participation in the remote work scheme will be voluntary, and those interested will need to submit an application to their superior for approval.
The finance official noted that many other countries have successfully implemented similar remote working policies. “They allow each government department to choose what fits, in terms of the number of days allotted to teleworking,” she highlighted.
Christiana Erotokritou, chair of the House finance committee, reported that approximately 3,150 civil servants currently have their own computers, indicating a readiness for the changes ahead. The specific number of days allocated for teleworking each week will be determined by the cabinet, which is taking cautious steps to ensure a smooth implementation.
“We are proceeding with careful steps, so that any glitches and problems can be dealt with along the way,” Erotokritou added, reinforcing the commitment to a thoughtful rollout of this new working arrangement.
