The Pan-Cyprian Union of Public Employees (Pasydy) is pushing for fixed-term public sector workers who have completed, or will complete, 30 months of employment to be converted to indefinite-contract status. The union has circulated a notice to its members and is calling an open meeting for Wednesday 29 April at 1pm at the Pasydy amphitheatre, at which Secretary-General Stratis Matthaiou will outline the next steps. The meeting is open to both members and non-members.
The push follows a precedent set on 6 April, when parliament approved legislation covering teachers employed under support programmes at the Ministry of Education, providing that those who have completed or will complete 30 months as fixed-term employees be converted to indefinite contracts. A small number of fixed-term workers at the Department of Immigration have also recently been converted to indefinite status through an out-of-court settlement.
"On the occasion of this development, as well as the recent change in the employment status of SYOP workers so that their contracts are not terminated before retirement, we believe we must claim equivalent treatment for fixed-term employees in the public service who have completed 30 months of employment," the union said.
Promotion rights the remaining gap
Beyond the question of contract status, Pasydy has also signalled its intent to pursue the issue of career progression for the thousands of indefinite-contract employees currently locked out of advancement structures. According to figures obtained from the Department of Public Administration and Personnel, there are 4,295 indefinite-contract employees across the civil service. The largest concentrations are at the Ministry of Health, where the majority of medical and nursing staff are on indefinite contracts, and at the Ministry of Education. In the Stewards' branch alone, 219 indefinite-contract workers are employed alongside 206 permanent staff. Pharmaceutical Services has 115 indefinite-contract employees against 68 permanent, and Postal Services employs 220 indefinite-contract workers alongside 238 permanent staff.
Matthaiou noted that union efforts have succeeded in aligning the terms and rights of indefinite-contract workers with those of permanent staff across most areas, including annual and sick leave, pension entitlements and salary benefits. The sole remaining exception is the right to career advancement. Pasydy has submitted a draft bill to the Ministry of Finance, prepared by the union's legal adviser, proposing a framework for resolving the promotion issue, but has received no response from the ministry.
"A solution must finally be found," Matthaiou said, warning that "in a few years there will be no administrative structures in some departments, with the result that all employees will be on contract. We all have a responsibility to work consciously toward a definitive solution."
Both issues are expected to be placed on the agenda of Pasydys upcoming congress on 11 May, which will be addressed by the Finance Minister.