The government’s long-awaited bill on working from home in the public service is now before Parliament, setting out how civil servants might combine remote and office work in the years ahead. The reform, considered a milestone for the disbursement of the EU’s seventh Recovery and Resilience Facility tranche, has drawn close scrutiny from the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection, Irene Loizidou Nicolaidou.
Speaking after a consultation hosted by the Department of Public Administration and Personnel (DPAP), Nicolaidou emphasised that before any scheme is rolled out, a formal impact assessment on data protection must be carried out and approved by her office, in line with EU regulation.
While most of her recommendations have been taken on board, Nicolaidou expressed concern that references to the voluntary nature of working from home had been removed from the draft. “It is important to clarify that remote work should be voluntary,” she noted, underlining the need to define it as an optional arrangement rather than an obligation.
She also flagged a potential loophole in the bill’s eligibility criteria. At present, it limits working from home to permanent civil servants confirmed by the Public Service Commission, as well as indefinite and fixed-term employees with at least two years of continuous service. But questions arise over staff who move from indefinite contracts to permanent posts: although they may already have years of service, they remain on probation until their appointment is formally confirmed. Nicolaidou asked whether their prior service would count, making them eligible for remote work despite not yet being confirmed.
In Parliament’s Finance Committee, the Ministry of Finance stressed that flexible working arrangements form part of Cyprus’ broader public-sector modernisation strategy, directly tied to EU funding. Officials highlighted that remote work will only apply to roles where duties are compatible, as assessed by department heads. Employees in shift-based systems are excluded, given the need for round-the-clock physical presence.
Other provisions require staff to have the necessary IT equipment, such as an official computer, and to work only from their place of residence. The rules also underline that applications will be voluntary and subject to supervisor approval, with the Cabinet setting the number of days permitted each year.
The committee’s article-by-article review continues this week, with MPs weighing whether the draft strikes the right balance between flexibility, accountability, and workers’ rights.
