Parliament’s health committee made no real progress on Thursday on government amendments that would allow hospitals to employ nurses from non-EU countries. The committee heard only from the health ministry and trade unions, and put off hearing from hospitals until a later session.
Under the government’s proposal, nurses from outside the EU could make up to 10 per cent of each hospital’s nursing and midwifery staff. They would need the required qualifications and, as a rule, two years’ professional experience, and would not be able to serve as shift supervisors. Their licence to practise would be valid for two years.
The government maintains that hiring foreign nurses is a temporary “bridge solution” until measures to attract young people into the profession take effect. The health ministry presented those measures to the committee. They include an annual campaign worth 120,000 euros, financial support for nursing students, exploring scholarships and promoting the role of carers.
The unions repeated their opposition, arguing that the proposed arrangements do not address the real causes of the staff shortage.
Knowledge of Greek was a major point of disagreement. The ministry proposes raising the requirement from basic to intermediate level, while the nurses’ union PASYNO is calling for C1 level. PASYNO argued that good communication and accurate record-keeping are directly linked to patient safety.
The Cyprus Workers’ Confederation (SEK), PEO, PASYNO and the civil servants’ union PASYDY focused on working conditions in the private sector. They pointed to breaches of working hours, problems with pay and complaints of staff being intimidated.
The unions are insisting on collective agreements, warning that bringing in staff from outside the EU without improving working conditions could create new problems.
Concerns were also raised during the discussion that Cyprus could become a transit point for nurses from non-EU countries, who might then seek work in other European countries.
Hospitals, which have publicly warned that staff shortages are forcing them to close beds and postpone operations, will be heard at the next session, before the committee begins examining the government’s proposals in detail.
