Department of Labour Inspection considers stricter penalties for workplace accidents

The Cyprus Department of Labour Inspection is planning to amend legislation to increase penalties and out-of-court fines for workplace accidents. Tasoula Kyprianidou, the department’s acting director, stated that current court-imposed fines of a few thousand euros fail to reflect the value of a worker's life, necessitating more severe legal consequences for violations.

This initiative follows a concerning trend in workplace safety statistics. While the total number of incidents has seen a decline, fatalities remain an issue of urgency. Official data shows that 1,276 workplace accidents resulting in more than three days of absence were recorded in 2025, with most occurring in the construction sector. Specifically, there were seven fatal accidents in 2025 and five fatalities recorded so far in 2026.

The announcement coincides with the upcoming Week of Safety and Health at Work, which focuses on promoting mental health in the workplace. The proposed legislative changes aim to curb negligence and enforce safer working conditions, although no specific timeline for the parliamentary process was provided by the department.