Filenews 5 November 2025
Cyprus records the highest percentage of volunteer blood donors in the world in proportion to the population, according to statements by DISY MP Prodromos Alambritis. Mr. Alambritis was speaking after today's session of the Parliamentary Labour Committee, which examined the need to institutionalize facilities for employees who donate blood.
During the discussion, the possibility of introducing incentives or obligations for employers was raised, to ensure that employees can participate in blood donations without loss of income or labour rights. The rapporteurs underlined the importance of strengthening voluntary blood donation, which is a critical factor for public health and the self-sufficiency of the blood system.
Mr. Alampritis stated that they were very happy to be informed about this first place that honours our citizens and people. He stated that at the urging of DIKO MP, Pavlos Mylonas, they discussed in the Committee the granting of permission to civil servants to donate blood. There is, he said, as they were informed, a relevant circular and it is good for the citizens to know it.
They discussed, he said, strengthening the incentives beyond the leave given for a few hours for blood donation roofs. There are countries, he said, that give up to half a working day's leave to those who want to donate blood, while they also discussed, he added, the possibility of someone who will donate blood being credited with half a day of leave or someone who donates blood twice a year being credited with a full day's leave. They asked, he said, from the Ministry of Labour to consider this possibility and whether a legislative regulation can be made for it.
Also, he continued, they talked about other incentives, such as honorary events for regular blood donors or a public award. He noted that there are countries that also cover the costs of moving the blood donor to go to a blood center, while they still give discount coupons to supermarkets, discounts on public transport, discounts on fees in public health systems.
All this, he said, can be examined and the way to strengthen blood donors can be found to meet the needs.
DIKO MP, Pavlos Mylonas, stated that due to problems with regular and non-regular blood donors, they discussed today the issue of facilitating and providing incentives to blood donors. We are close to an agreement with all social partners, OEB, PASYDY, Department of Personnel Administration, etc. to give incentives to blood donors, he said.
Mr. Mylonas reminded that banks regularly invite people to donate blood, saying that the process for blood donors could be facilitated.
Permission for artificial insemination
At today's meeting of the Labour Committee, the proposal for a law of the Member of Parliament of DIPA, Michalis Giakoumis, regarding the establishment of a special care leave of 7 working days without pay for employees undergoing medically assisted reproduction procedures, was also discussed.
Mr. Giakoumis, in statements after the session, stated that the proposal fills a real social gap to support the right of every employee to create a family, without being forced to choose between his work and the creation of a family.
"I keep the positivity of all the members of the Committee present, but also the constructive attitude of the political forces, organizations and social bodies that participated in the session. Everyone recognized the need to legislate on this issue in a fair and realistic way."
The position of the Ministry of Labour was also particularly positive, which stated that it will examine the proposal in the immediate future, with the aim of processing it and returning with a comprehensive regulation by January, he added.
Mr. Giakoumis said that it is important to proceed consensually and decisively, because this arrangement is not formal, but deeply human.
CNA
