Employers refusing to pay for frontline tests

Cyprus frontline employees of supermarkets, grocery stores and bakeries who are legally required to be tested for coronavirus until 28 April are having a hard time complying as employers are reluctant to cover the cost.

As private sector labs are close to completing the number of tests allocated by the Health Ministry within the framework of the 20,000 tests paid by the state, employers are refusing to pick up the tab, leaving a large number of employees exposed.

Employers are obligated by the decree to pay to have their employees tested if they were not covered by the ministry testing scheme, which works on a first come, first serve basis. Some employees have also been reporting that labs are not answering their calls when they call to book an appointment, or they are being told that the labs have met their quota of tests assigned by the Health Ministry.

Media outlets have been receiving a number of such complaints with trade union PEO confirming these reports. PEO General Secretary Pampis Kyritsis said: “Employees are facing many problems in their efforts to be tested. There are no tests, they (labs) are not giving out appointments, there is difficulty in communication as many calls go unanswered”.

He criticised authorities saying that when a scheme is announced, it must be applicable in practice, because if not, then the responsibility is transferred to the employee.

Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou, was quoted by Phileleftheros daily, saying, “the Ministry is aware of the situation and we have sent out letters to some labs, not following the guidelines. Any lab not complying with the guidelines will not be paid for its services”.