Cyprus ministry of education support staff to transition to permanent status

The Cypriot parliamentary education committee has approved a government bill that allows employees in the ministry of education's support programs to transition to permanent employment status. The bill is expected to be put before the plenary session of the house of representatives as early as next Monday. Under the proposed legislation, workers currently on fixed-term contracts or those who previously operated under service purchase schemes will be eligible for permanent status after completing 30 months of service. Representative Giorgos Karoullas of DISY expressed support for the bill, noting that it builds upon the 2022 policy change that abolished the service purchase model. Trade unions SEK and PEO support the initiative but raised concerns regarding the employment terms, as the ministry clarified that these roles cannot be treated as public service positions due to their private law nature. The teachers' union OELMEK raised an objection regarding the classification of certain music and sports school programs, though the ministry maintains these are distinct programs. The legislation aims to ensure continuity and stability for hundreds of employees within the educational support sector.