Union ISOTITA demands targeted audits for sick leave abuse in public sector

On November 6, 2026, the Cypriot public sector union ISOTITA issued a response to recent reports regarding high rates of sick leave among civil servants. The union strongly rejected the public shaming and generalization of employees, while explicitly stating its opposition to any form of sick leave abuse. ISOTITA called for individual investigations in cases where there is substantiated evidence of fraud, proposing that consequences be imposed on both the employee and the physician who signs a false medical certificate.

Providing context, the union cited data indicating that fewer than one in ten civil servants—specifically 960 individuals—exceeded the 42-day sick leave limit established by regulations. It emphasized that in these specific instances, extensions were formally approved by a medical board. Regarding high absence rates in sectors like the Prison Department, Mental Health Services, and Social Welfare Services, the union defended the employees, noting that these positions involve extremely stressful and demanding conditions, including daily exposure to violence and psychological crises.

ISOTITA continues to push for systemic improvements and better staffing for these high-stress departments to mitigate the need for extended sick leave. The union maintains that while abuse must be addressed, it is unfair to target the entire public workforce based on statistical outliers.