The abuse of sick leave in the public sector is nothing new. Yet somehow, this problem has never actually been dealt with. Right now, though, there are signs of movement, an attempt to finally get to grips with an issue that does real damage to how the civil service functions.
Justice Minister Costas Fytiris, who is handling the matter, is reportedly determined to press ahead with a proper oversight mechanism, and to lock it in through legislation. An inter-ministerial meeting on the issue has already taken place recently, and two days ago the minister met with the president of the Cyprus Medical Association. Sick leave was on the table, an issue that keeps surfacing in Audit Office reports and in data from various state departments. The question of doctors’ own responsibility inevitably came up too. And doctors clearly do have a part to play here, given how directly they’re involved.
The state is working from two principles, and they set the frame for everything that follows. First, it has a duty to properly protect workers who are genuinely unwell and need support. Second, it has to make sure that protection isn’t hijacked, at the expense of public services, of workers who play by the rules, and of the taxpayer footing the bill.
The Ministry, which carries the burden of fixing a problem that has dragged on for years, cannot do this alone. It needs everyone at the table: doctors, and the workers’ unions alike. Any abuse that comes to light is, obviously, illegal. And breaking the law has to come at a cost. Everyone involved needs to face consequences.
So what does PASYDY, the civil servants’ union, make of all this? It points out that over 90 percent of staff are not abusing the system, and on that basis is calling for targeted rules “only for isolated cases.” The union argues it’s necessary to stamp out exploitation of the system by a small minority, while insisting the rights of those genuinely facing serious health problems must be protected at the same time.
Action needs to be taken. Whether the problem involves a handful of people or many more doesn’t really matter. What matters is that it gets tackled quickly and properly. We’ll be watching for the next steps. The issue, at last, looks like it’s on track to be addressed.
