Minister Fytiris to hold talks with labor unions regarding sick leave in September

Minister of Justice and Public Order Kostas Fytiris announced that he will meet with labor unions in September to discuss the regulation of sick leave in the public and broader public sector. The minister intends to finalize proposals through internal government consultations with relevant ministries before these formal discussions take place.

Labor unions, including PASYDY, have expressed their readiness to engage in the dialogue. During a meeting on July 30 regarding prison staff issues, Minister Fytiris clarified his position, emphasizing that the government aims to address specific instances of abuse of the sick leave system. He specifically dismissed the possibility of implementing horizontal cuts to sick leave benefits, focusing instead on targeted interventions to ensure fair usage.

The upcoming September meetings are part of a broader government effort to evaluate and potentially adjust the existing framework for managing medical absences. Officials maintain that the dialogue will involve all relevant stakeholders to reach a mutually acceptable resolution that corrects systemic misuse without negatively impacting legitimate claims.