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The House of Representatives today approved a landmark bill allowing remote work in Cyprus’s public sector, marking a major step toward modernizing public administration.
The “Law on the Regulation of Teleworking in the Public Service of 2025” sets a framework for voluntary telework among government employees and contractors. Under an amendment from the ruling Democratic Rally (DISY), telework will be limited to four days per month per employee. The measure passed with 33 votes in favor and two against, both from the far-right ELAM party.
The government said the reform aims to enhance flexibility, efficiency and alignment with modern labor practices. It is also part of the country’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, funded by the European Union.
The law allows telework only for employees who have completed at least one year of service, though supervisors may approve earlier eligibility in some cases. It requires the Ministry of Finance to issue health and safety guidelines for telework and removes previous provisions linking remote days to service calculations.
Lawmakers expressed mixed reactions. Supporters from DISY, DIKO and DIPA called the bill a long-overdue modernization that could ease traffic, improve work-life balance and boost productivity if implemented carefully.
Opposition parties AKEL and the Greens backed the main bill but criticized the four-day limit, arguing it could unfairly restrict workers with disabilities or those needing greater flexibility.
ELAM opposed the legislation, warning it could reduce efficiency and open the door to favoritism and abuse by supervisors.
Several MPs urged strong oversight, training and technology upgrades to ensure effective implementation. DIKO’s Christiana Erotokritou called for an evaluation after one year to measure results, while AKEL’s Eirini Charalambidou raised concerns about the state’s ability to assess productivity under the new system.
DISY’s Savia Orphanidou described the measure as “a modern tool” for improving quality of life, emphasizing that telework is neither a right nor an obligation but an option under defined conditions.
The law is expected to take effect in 2025 following the issuance of detailed guidelines by the Ministry of Finance.
