The Government and political parties aim to address prolonged standing at work, with new regulations set to be approved by Parliament before the end of the year.
The bill, approved last week by the Cabinet for changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, was submitted to Parliament two days ago and is scheduled for discussion next Tuesday in the parliamentary Labour Committee.
Prompted by motions from AKEL MP Giorgos Koukoumas, the amendment was rapidly put through public consultation and social dialogue, reviewed by the Legal Service, and passed by the Cabinet before officially reaching Parliament last Thursday.
The bill, as detailed in the accompanying report, introduces minor changes to the existing Occupational Safety and Health legislation. Specifically, it amends Article 27 of the Occupational Safety and Health Laws of 1996 to 2020, requiring employers to provide suitable seating for every employee.
Employers must now offer appropriate seating or organizational measures for occasional rest in jobs involving prolonged standing.
Additionally, the employer’s obligation to provide seating or necessary organizational measures arises from the Written Risk Assessment they must conduct.
The report further states that this bill will better align Cyprus with European Directive 89/391/EEC on measures to improve worker safety and health, and Directive 89/654/EEC on minimum safety and health standards in the workplace.
Currently, Article 27, titled “seating,” states that “whenever a person at work has a reasonable opportunity to sit without detriment to their work, suitable seating should be provided and maintained for use to take advantage of these opportunities.”
With the amendment, Article 27’s title changes to “seating to avoid prolonged standing,” and the article is proposed to be revised as follows:
- During employment, every employee is provided with suitable seating for use, which is maintained or replaced as necessary. In cases where the job involves tasks requiring prolonged standing, the employer is obligated to provide suitable seating or take organizational or other measures, such as offering rest areas with appropriate seating for occasional rest of every employee.
- The employer’s obligation to provide seating to every employee or/and to take necessary organizational or other measures arises from the relevant Written Risk Assessment by the employer.
The Committee’s goal, following the completion of the necessary social dialogue, is to present the bill to the plenary of the Parliament before the Christmas holiday recess.
