Nicosia promises labor reforms from 2024
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides addressed the 60th Congress of PASYDY, the civil servants' trade union, on Tuesday and discussed significant developments regarding the restoration of shift allowances and overtime compensation for civil servants.
During his speech at the 60th PASYDY Congress, the president highlighted various key points. He emphasized the importance of modernizing the civil service through the implementation of a new performance appraisal system and the introduction of a framework for candidate selection by the National Examination Center. The president also underscored the significance of the digital transformation and e-government initiatives, aiming to enhance productivity and improve citizen services.
Additionally, President Christodoulides announced the establishment of new deputy ministries, which will contribute to improving administrative functioning and addressing specific issues in targeted areas. He mentioned the ongoing efforts in finalizing the Deputy Ministry of Immigration and Asylum. The president acknowledged the adoption of flexible working hours and expressed intentions to approve flexible forms of work.
Turning to broader reforms, the president expressed satisfaction with the agreement on the CoLA (Cost of Living Allowance) and encouraged the social partners to actively contribute to the dialogue table to reach a final agreement. He also stressed the need to modernize the framework of the pension system, promoting private funds, and establishing a strong supervisory mechanism to ensure best practices in managing Provident Funds.
Focusing on economic competitiveness and welfare, President Christodoulides emphasized the triple bottom line of maintaining fiscal discipline, broadening the productive base of the economy, and promoting structural reforms. He highlighted initiatives such as tax reform, subsidies for digital and green investments, worker skills upgrading programs, and improving the legal and institutional framework to combat corruption.
Regarding the Fit for 55 Package and the green transition, the president acknowledged the challenges Cyprus faces in reducing polluting emissions by 2030. He stressed the need for significant investment and a transformation of the economy to address the issue comprehensively.