Filenews 14 November 2025 - by Eleftheria Paizanou
With 33 votes in favour and two against, the Plenary Session of the Parliament approved on Thursday afternoon the bill for the implementation of teleworking (also) in the Public Sector. The MPs of DISY, DIKO, DIPA and the Ecologists were in favour of the bill and against ELAM.
Earlier, the DISY amendment for the implementation of teleworking only up to four days a month was approved by a majority. The amendment was supported by 21 MPs from DISY, DIKO, DIPA and Stavros Papadouris of the Ecologists and voted against by 12 MPs of AKEL, ELAM and Charalambos Theopemptou of the Ecologists. The government bill provided that the number of days of teleworking allowed would be decided by the Council of Ministers.
DISY MP Savia Orfanidou said that teleworking has been implemented for years in other countries. As he said, the bill gives the employee the opportunity to telework under specific conditions. Referring to the DISY amendment, she said that teleworking should be implemented gradually, pointing out that in this way abuses are limited.
AKEL MP Andreas Kafkalias said that the government will have the responsibility to implement teleworking in a way that serves the public interest, workers and citizens. He also expressed his disagreement with the DISY amendment.
AKEL MP Irini Charalambidou wondered how the efficiency of teleworking workers will be evaluated. "When we did not succeed in properly evaluating civil servants (in the workplace), how will they be evaluated with teleworking?" he asked.
DIKO MP Christiana Erotokritou, stated that Cyprus must enter the 21st century at some point, pointing out that teleworking was rightly included in the milestones for the Recovery Fund.
DIKO MP Chrysis Pantelidis said that the Ministry of Finance should process a bill for remote service of citizens. "To relieve citizens of the obligation to visit a government department," he added.
ELAM MP Sotiris Ioannou said that a bad plan endangers the public administration. As he said, there is a risk of abuse and favouritism and there will be no control over the employees who will be teleworking.
DIPA MP Alekos Tryfonidis said that there may be unequal treatment of employees. As he said, there is a risk of abusive behaviours by employees and supervisors while he expressed his concern about the productivity of employees.
The president of the Ecologists, Stavros Papadouris, appealed for the correct implementation of the law, pointing out that there should be no abuse, that is, an employee whose home is 150 meters from his workplace should be entitled to use the measure and that another employee who comes from another city should not be allowed.
The MP of the Ecologists, Charalambos Theopemptou, expressed his disagreement with the limitation of teleworking days to 4 per month, pointing out that in Brussels employees work one day with teleworking and one day with physical presence and this also facilitates smooth traffic on the streets.
