Parliament reviews critical failings in social welfare services

On November 3, 2026, the Parliamentary Committee on Labor reviewed the operational crises within the Social Welfare Services (SWS). During the session, severe complaints were raised regarding the negligence of vulnerable individuals, including reports of elderly citizens failing to receive essential home care. Officials highlighted a critical staffing imbalance, noting that each social worker currently manages over 100 cases, despite scientific guidelines recommending an optimal limit of 20 to 30 cases. Furthermore, Nicosia currently faces 150 open violence-related cases, a figure significantly higher than international standards.

Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Tina Pavlou acknowledged that staff work under substandard conditions and outdated infrastructure. While a reorganization plan for the SWS was first announced in 2019, the necessary study was only commissioned to KPMG in May 2026. The Minister stated that full modernization of the services is not expected to be completed until 2029. Efforts to address the backlog include the recent introduction of the 'neighborhood social worker' program, though stakeholders criticized the slow pace of reform as having a negative impact on the daily lives of citizens in need.