Legislative stalemate over nursing recruitment from third countries in Cyprus

On October 29, 2026, the Cypriot Parliamentary Health Committee met to discuss proposed government legislation aimed at addressing acute nursing shortages by allowing the recruitment of professionals from countries outside the European Union. The proposal includes a 10% staffing cap per hospital and two-year initial practice licenses, but the session ended without consensus due to sharp disagreements between political parties, unions, and employer organizations.

Opposition parties, including AKEL, have made collective labor agreements a non-negotiable condition for their support, expressing fears of wage suppression and the degradation of labor standards. Union organizations, such as PEO, SEK, PASYDY, and PASYNO, have collectively rejected the proposal in its current form, criticizing the Ministry of Health for failing to consult them. Furthermore, while the Ministry of Health estimates a shortfall of at least 586 nurses, disputes persist over the status of 1,400 nurses currently reported as inactive. The Ministry claims only a fraction are actually available, while MPs from DISY and DIKO insist that better pay and improved working conditions are required to attract local nurses back to the profession.

Discussions regarding language requirements also remain contentious, with stakeholders debating the necessary level of Greek fluency to ensure patient safety. With no consensus reached, the legislation remains in limbo, and the committee has ceased article-by-article debate for the time being.