Cyprus has implemented mandatory same-day communication protocols requiring nurseries to contact parents when children are absent without prior notification, following an infant’s death who passed away after her mother forgot her in the car after going to work.
The new procedure, which takes immediate effect, has been established by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare in coordination with the Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB) and the Cyprus Private Pre-School Education Association (SIPEK).
Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Marilena Evangelou has communicated the urgency of these measures in a formal letter to both organisations, emphasising that the initiative aims to strengthen safety protocols following the fatal incident that occurred on Friday, March 14, involving an infant in Nicosia.
The Deputy Minister has appealed to SIPEK members to implement this measure immediately, even before the completion of the regulatory amendment process that will formally alter the relevant decree.
According to a joint statement released by the three bodies, both OEB and SIPEK have expressed their readiness to comply with immediate implementation of the new requirement.
“Currently, such communication practices are at the discretion of individual nurseries. However, considering contemporary living conditions and acknowledging that the existing legislation was formulated under different circumstances, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, in collaboration with OEB and SIPEK, deems this change imperative,” the statement noted.
The joint announcement concluded that “mandatory communication protocols will contribute to more immediate information sharing and timely response in cases of emergency, enhancing child safety.”
The policy change comes in direct response to the March 14 incident and precedes a scheduled discussion at the Parliamentary Committee on Education on Wednesday, March 19, where legislators will consider formal statutory amendments to institutionalise these requirements.
The Deputy Ministry has also distributed a template letter for nurseries to share with parents, outlining the new communication expectations to ensure consistent implementation across all childcare facilities.
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