Cyprus greenlights work-from-home for public servants as perks keep piling up

Just when complaints over an oversized and well-paid public sector haven’t died down, the government is moving to give civil servants the option to work from home, at least part of the time.

The Council of Ministers has approved a new bill that would allow government employees to telework on certain days of the year, depending on their job duties. The plan, which still needs to be passed by Parliament, is part of a broader effort to modernize the public service and improve work-life balance. But not everyone is convinced.

“We already have one of the heaviest public payrolls in the EU, and now we’re telling them to stay home?” said one private sector employee who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Try asking for that in a private company and see how far you get.”

Not for everyone

The plan doesn’t give blanket work-from-home rights. Instead, it introduces what’s called “mixed teleworking,” meaning employees could work remotely only on certain days, and only if their job allows it. Department heads will decide who qualifies.

A manual with detailed guidelines is being prepared to help departments manage the change, but it won’t be released until the law is passed by the House of Representatives.

The move falls under Cyprus’ 2021–2026 Recovery and Resilience Plan, which includes a major reform push to modernize the public sector.

More flexibility for working parents and caregivers

Alongside telework, the Cabinet also approved new regulations updating working hours in the public sector:

Reduced working hours of up to 2 hours per day will be allowed for parents of children under 15, caregivers, and employees with serious health conditions or disabilities. Pay will be reduced accordingly.

More flexible hours will let public servants start work between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. and finish between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. That’s an increase from the current 1.5-hour flex window.

Special adjustments will apply to employees of the House of Representatives, who often work in the afternoons.

The reforms are being pitched as a way to support families, reduce burnout, and align Cyprus with EU-wide employment standards, but the timing and optics haven’t gone unnoticed.

Tech upgrades needed

To manage these changes, all public sector departments will be required to install electronic systems to track staff attendance and process telework requests. Departments that haven’t done so already will need to catch up before the rules take effect.

For now, no implementation date has been announced. Officials say that will depend on how quickly the two bills, one on telework and one on working hours, are passed by lawmakers.