EXCESSIVE SICK LEAVE BY PUBLIC SERVANTS IN CYPRUS STILL AN ISSUE

in-cyprus 10 August 2020 - by Maria Bitar

Nearly five out of 10 employees in state ministries and semi-governmental organisations or services were absent from their work on sick leave for more than seven days in 2018, according to latest data released.

And this shows that excessive sick leaves by civil servants in Cyprus remains an issue, Philenews reported on Monday.

Data from the Department of Public Administration and Personnel on the days of absence due to illness with a medical certificate corresponding to the staff of each ministry and semi-state service shows the following:

—22.51% of civil servants were absent from 1 to 6 days.

—16.35% from 7 to 13 days.

—9.75% from 14 to 20 days.

—6.02% from 21 to 27 days.

—4.15% of employees in ministries and independent services were absent from 28 to 34 days.

—2.84% from 35 to 41 days.

—2.93% from 42 days to 2 months.

—4.15% of civil servants from 2 to 6 months.

It appears that more than one in 10 public servants were absent from work on a one-day sick leave without a doctor’s certificate.

The data for civil servants who are most absent with or without a doctor’s certificate are also revealing. Specifically, Absences from work for up to 13 days with a doctor’s certificate were as follows:

—11.47% of employees in the Ministry of Defence.

—15.80% at the Ministry of Agriculture.

—11% at the Ministry of Justice.

—19.58% at the Ministry of Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism.

—17.18% at the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurances.

—6.97% at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

—17.51% at the Ministry of Interior.

—18.86% at the Ministry of Finance.

—19.61% of the employees in the Ministry of Education and Culture.

—13.88% at the Ministry of Transport.

—16.21% at the Ministry of Health.

—13.99% at the State Department of Shipping.

—19.73% of employees in independent services.

As for sick leaves without a doctor’s certificate, to which permanent staff are entitled to for up to 8 days:

The largest use was observed by the employees in the Ministry of Energy, Trade, Industry with 5.30%.

—3.79% of employees in the Ministry of Agriculture.

—2.43% of employees in the Ministry of Justice.

—3.21% of employees in the Ministry of Labour.

The percentage for employees under this category in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Shipping was zero.

—2.84% of employees in the Ministry of Interior.

—3.51% at the Ministry of Finance.

—2.10% of the employees in the Ministry of Education and Culture.

—4.52% of the employees in the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.

—0.76% of employees in the Ministry of Health.

And 2.30% in semi-governmental services.

Zero use of leave without a doctor’s certificate for up to 8 days:

The permanent staff of the secretariat of the Council of Ministers.

The permanent staff of the Audit Office.

The permanent staff of the Education Service Committee.

The permanent staff of the Commission for the Protection of Competition.

The permanent staff of the Office of the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection.

The permanent staff of the State Aid Control Office.

he permanent staff of the Office of the Commissioner for Legislature.

The permanent staff of the Tenders Review Authority.

And the permanent staff of the Department of Forestry and Meteorology.

The largest use was observed by:

The employees of the Internal Audit Services with 6.90%.

5.74% of employees of the Legal Services.

2.79% of employees of the Judicial Services.

2.70% of employees of the Public Service Committee.

7.72% of employees at the Agricultural Research Institute.

And 3.1% of the employees in the Department of Environment.