News
The European Parliament and the Council adopted Directive 2019/1152/EU on transparent and predictable working conditions. The Directive will provide new rights for all workers, and in particular addresses the insufficient protection for workers in more precarious jobs.
The amendment allows employees to take paid annual leave from the first day of their employment. Previously an employee was required to complete 13 weeks of continuous employment with the same employer before being entitled to annual leave.
The Law was adopted with the aim of promoting work-life balance for working parents and carers. Amongst other matters, the law provides for parental leave allowance, the right to carers’ leave, the right to time off from work on the grounds of force majeure and the right of working parents and carers to request flexible working arrangements.
The 4 phases agreed by the Council of Ministers for the gradual lifting of the restrictive measures imposed in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, were announced by the Minister of Health at a press conference on Friday, 1 May 2020. The Minster stressed that the gradual easing of the lock down will occur on the basis of the guidelines and protocols.
On the 8 April 2020, the President of Cyprus announced that the measures announced previously to restrict the spread of coronavirus on the island were to be extended until April 30, in line with the decisions adopted by the the Council of Ministers. The financial measures announced previously to support employees and businesses during the current crisis will also be be extended until 12 June 2020.
On 30 January 2020 the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a global health emergency of international concern. Two months later, the pandemic presents a number of issues for Cyprus employers and threatens the survival of many businesses. This article addresses some of the immediate issues which Cyprus employers are facing.
Many employers are struggling to understand their obligations towards employees during this unprecedented time. Employers obligations include safeguarding the health and safety of employees at their workplace, protecting vulnerable/high risk employees, providing special leave to parents with children up to 15 years old who work in the private sector…
The Cyprus Government announced an initial package of measures to support the economy and employers/employees to cope with the effects of COVID-19. These measures include Special leave for parents working in the private sector and support for businesses facing a reduction in turnover through a Business Suspension Plan.
Novel coronavirus is a new strain of coronavirus (known as COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China, in December 2019. Since that time there have been an increasing number of cases confirmed throughout the word.The first confirmed case of COVID-19 was officially identified in Cyprus on the 10 March 2020. On the 12 March 2020 the WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic.
The ECJ has confirmed that Member States are not obliged to allow annual leave in excess of the four weeks’ annual leave under the Working Time Directive to be carried forward to the next leave year if it has not been taken due to sickness.