Particularly sick people appear every year around 13 thousand. workers in the state machine, as they receive sick leave. In fact, more than 10% continue their sick leave after 42 days, during which full pay is paid.
The data came to light after questions submitted by DISY MP Giorgos Pamporidis and ALMA MP Litsa Drousiotou.
Under the legal framework, permanent and permanent employees in the public service are entitled to 42 days of full-time sick leave, eight of which do not require them to present a medical certificate.
At the same time, they are entitled to extend their sick leave for six months with full pay, after receiving prior approval from the Medical Council. When the first six months have elapsed, they can renew their sick leave, with the approval of the Medical Council, receiving 50% of their earnings.
It is worth noting that employees, after exhausting their sick leave, will have to return to their duties in order to be entitled to sick leave again.
After six months, they "get sick" again
However, it has been established that the phenomenal number of employees, after exhausting the six months of sick leave with full pay, return to work for a few days and "get sick" again for another six months, receiving their salary normally.
The problem with the possible abuses of sick leaves in the Prison Department was brought to light by the Audit Office, with its findings even leading to a criminal investigation.
Sick leave by year
The Ministry of Finance forwarded to the Parliament data on sick leave received by employees in the public service during the period 2020-2024.
In detail:
– In 2020, 13,088 employees "fell ill", of which 1,528 continued their sick leave beyond 42 days. Specifically, 551 employees received leave from 43 days to two months, another 818 received sick leave from two to six months, and 96 from six to 12 months.
– In 2021, 12,977 employees received sick leave. Of these, 455 received leave from 43 days to two months, 615 from two to six months, and 94 workers received leave from six to 12 months.
– In 2022, a total of 12,886 employees received sick leave. Of these, for 534 the leave ranged from 43 days to two months. Another 554 workers received sick leave from two to six months and 78 from six to 12 months.
– In 2023, 13,320 employees were out of work due to illness. The sick leave for 451 workers ranged from 43 days to two months, for 588 from two to six months and for 82 from six to 12 months.
– In 2024, 13,260 employees received sick leave. Of these, 364 received leave from 43 days to two months, 516 from two to six months and 80 from six to 12 months.
For 2025, no data have been forwarded to the Parliament, as the relevant information has not been submitted to the Department of Public Administration and Personnel.
Few received half earnings
In relation to the extension of sick leave beyond six months with half pay, the Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos, in a letter of reply to the Parliament, emphasizes that the numbers of days of extension of sick leave with half pay are small compared to the corresponding numbers for the extension of leave with full pay.
As he points out, this is linked to the way the regulations are applied in practice and the phenomenon of employees returning to work for a few days after the expiration of the extension of full-time sick leave, in order to regain the right to full-paid sick leave.
20% received sick leave beyond 27 days
In the meantime, a large percentage of the staff of some services and departments received sick leave for more than 27 days a year, a number which, according to the competent ministry, is considered high and recurrent.
The percentage of staff who received more than 27 days of sick leave per year varies between 15% and 20%.
In detail, in 2020 a total of 2,498 employees were sick for more than 27 days, in 2021 their number was 2,375, while in 2022 it increased to 2,770.
In addition, in 2023 and 2024, 2,348 and 2,032 employees received sick leave beyond 27 days, respectively.
In which departments did they get the most licenses?
From the data cited by the Ministry of Finance, it appears that the five departments and services of the state machine with the sickest workers during the period 2020-2024 were the Office of the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights, the Office of the Commissioner for Legislation, the Mining Service, the Mental Health Services and the Department of Prisons.
Especially for the Prison Department, in 2024, out of 442 employees, 117 received sick leave for more than 27 days. In 2023, a total of 144 employees took advantage of the same benefit for the same period, while in 2022 a total of 128 employees were on sick leave. In 2021 and 2022, 147 and 129 employees, respectively, took advantage of more than 27 days of sick leave.
Ministry of Finance: From 2024, the regulations are pending in Parliament
The Minister of Finance admits that in some cases sick leave is abused and refers to the relevant regulations, which have been pending in Parliament since 2024, due to the reactions of the trade unions.
In the pending regulations, the arrangements for referral of medical certificates exceeding 42 days to the Medical Council for approval were differentiated, while a different control mechanism was included.
