Background information

The scheme addresses the vulnerable working groups holding a certificate from their personal doctors or Ministry of Health according to the Decree 127 of the Quarantine Law, Chapter 260 of the Minister of Health. The scheme aims to protect workers having particular health issues allowing their absence from work in order to protect themselves and the deterioration of the health condition. The Ministry of Health prepared a list with the group of workers considered as vulnerable.

Content of measure

The Scheme grants the special sick leave allowance to the vulnerable groups subjected to the virus including:

• persons who are listed as vulnerable as designated by the Ministry of Health,
• persons subjected to compulsory isolation and self-isolation, where the nature of their work does not permit teleworking,
• persons affected with the COVID-19 holding a certificate from the Ministry of Health and d. persons aged 63-65 years who do not receive a statutory pension and fall under a, b and c categories holding the corresponding certificate.

The special sick leave is calculated at 60% of the value of the insurance units for employees and self-employed workers qualified under the Social Insurance Law. The maximum amount that would be paid as a special sick leave may not exceed €1,214.

On the 23 April 2020, the Cabinet amended the calculation of the payable amount to the beneficiaries in order to support as many employees as possible currently out of work or full-time work. For the purpose of paying the Special Sick Leave Benefit, the insurable earnings of the year 2018 will be taken into account, but in addition, a comparison will be made based on the declared salary of January 2020. The payable amount will be the highest amount that results from this comparison taking into account the 60% for both calculations.

Additionally, a minimum payable amount of €356 has been defined for beneficiaries, which amount is equal to the lowest statutory pension.

An additional amendment to the Scheme is the inclusion of persons over 65 years of age who do not receive statutory pension and continue to work.

Use of measure

The estimate number of beneficiaries is 20,000 and the available budget is €15 million.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Does not apply to businesses	Older citizens The COVID-19 risk group

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social partners jointly Trade unions Employers' organisations Social insurance	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners – trade unions and employers’ organization – at the peak level were invited by the Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurable to participate in consultation process during the designing phase of the Scheme. Political parties have been also invited in the consultation process during the designing of the Scheme. Sectoral trade unions and smaller organizations of the employers did not participate in the consultation process.

Views and reactions

Social partners and political parties encouraged the government to take such measures targeting the needs of vulnerable groups. Reactions and disagreements on the scheme or on particular provisions have not been recorded. On the contrary, social partners appear satisfied with the measure and supportive to the government.

Sources

• 16 March 2020: Decree 128, Law 27(1) 2020 'Emergency Measures taken by the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurances for the Confrontation of the Pandemic of Coronavirus COVID 19' (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 07 April 2020: Special sick leave allowance (www.coronavirus.mlsi.gov.cy)
• 12 April 2020: Decree 185, Law 27(1) 2020 'Emergency Measures taken by the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurances for the Confrontation of the Pandemic of Coronavirus COVID 19' (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 23 April 2020: Τη λήψη επιπρόσθετων μέτρων στήριξης των εργαζομένων αποφάσισε το Υπουργικό Συμβούλιο (www.pio.gov.cy)
• 13 May 2020: Decree 236, Law 27(1) 2020 'Emergency Measures taken by the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurances for the Confrontation of the Pandemic of Coronavirus COVID 19' (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 01 December 2020: Decree 637, sick leave allowance for vulnerable workers (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 20 January 2021: Decree 19/2021 (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 25 February 2021: Decree 87/2021 (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 19 March 2021: Decree 127/2021 (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 08 July 2021: Decree 172 (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 08 July 2021: Decree 222 (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 08 July 2021: Decree 273 (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 23 July 2021: Decree 334 sick leave (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 25 August 2021: Decree 373 sick leave (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 27 September 2021: Decree 406 sick leave (www.mof.gov.cy)
• 26 October 2021: Decree 435, sick leave (www.mof.gov.cy)