Inter-ministerial meeting held to address sick leave abuse in police and prisons

On June 19, 2026, a wide-ranging inter-ministerial meeting took place at the Ministry of Justice and Public Order to address high rates of sick leave among staff in the police and prison services. The meeting was attended by Minister of Justice and Public Order Konstantinos Fitiris, Minister of Finance Makis Keravnos, Minister of Health Neofytos Charalampidis, and Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Marinos Mousiouttas, along with senior officials. Participants reviewed data showing that sick leave absenteeism in certain staff categories significantly exceeds statistical expectations. It was noted that these absences negatively impact operational efficiency, increase public costs, and create an uneven distribution of workload. The ministers emphasized the state's duty to support workers with genuine health problems while addressing administrative distortions. The objective of the discussion was to ensure the proper application of the current institutional framework regarding sick leave. No specific new measures were announced at this stage, but the discussions focused on improving public sector performance and protecting public resources.