The hiring of nurses from third countries, working conditions in the private sector, the absence of collective bargaining agreements, and the actual staffing needs of hospitals were discussed at Thursday’s meeting of the Parliamentary Health Committee, with labor unions expressing strong reservations about the proposed legislative changes and the Ministry of Health referring to a “temporary solution,” until measures to attract new professionals to the field prove effective.
The discussion will continue on October 29, 2026, with a hearing on the positions of employers and the Pan-Cyprian Association of Private Hospitals (PASIN). The members of the relevant House committee expect the Ministry of Health to repeat the consultation process to determine whether there is room for agreement, particularly regarding the implementation of collective bargaining agreements.
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Approximately 150 nurses under the new regulations
Speaking during the session, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Karolina Stylianou, explained that the proposed amendments stipulate that nurses from third countries must possess the required qualifications and, as a rule, at least two years of professional experience.
At the same time, she noted that they may not exceed 10% of the nursing and midwifery staff at any hospital, nor may they assume the duties of a shift supervisor.
According to her, the professional license will be valid for two years, while the requirements regarding knowledge of the Greek language are being raised compared to the requirements currently in effect for nurses from European Union member states.
Ms. Stylianou noted that the regulation could allow for the employment of approximately 150 nurses from third countries, providing immediate, though limited, relief to hospitals.
In presenting measures to attract young people to the profession, he noted the increase in new nursing student enrollments at Cypriot universities, from 98 in the 2023–2024 academic year to 238 this year.
The measures also include an annual campaign worth €120,000, financial support for students, exploring the provision of scholarships, and promoting the mentor program.
Wages and Working Conditions
Labor unions questioned whether hiring staff from third countries can be a meaningful solution to the problem, arguing that the root causes of understaffing remain low wages and unfavorable employment conditions, particularly in the private sector.
Speaking on behalf of SEK, Michalis Kazamias addressed potential problems arising from differing working conditions and cultures, while also raising questions about the data used to calculate staffing needs.
He argued that the calculations even include hospital beds that have not yet been installed.
For its part, PASYDY noted that the relevant study has not been officially provided to the union, leading it to request more comprehensive information regarding the data on which the plans are based.
In the same context, Christos Christodoulou, spokesperson for the Cyprus Nursing and Midwifery Council, cited the large number of professionals who have left the nursing profession, noting that 988 nurses under the age of 40 are not renewing their licenses, and adding that 1,450 are not practicing nursing in Cyprus.
She called for an investigation into the reasons for their departure and for incentives to be established to encourage their return, rather than relying primarily on attracting workers from other countries to address the shortages.
The PASYNO representative, Savvas Iakovou, argued that the proposed regulation does not address the root of the problem, raising issues regarding working conditions, wages, and patient safety.
He also stated that the required proficiency in the Greek language should be at the C1 level to ensure effective communication with patients and the accurate recording of information.
The spokesperson for the Pan-Cyprian Association of Nurses and Midwives, Maria Panagiotou, expressed concern regarding the language proficiency, professional competence, and smooth integration of nurses from third countries.
Representatives of the SEK, PEO, PASYNO, and PASYDY unions also raised issues regarding violations of work schedules, pay issues, and allegations of intimidation of workers in the private sector, and reiterated the need to secure collective bargaining agreements, warning that bringing in workers from third countries without simultaneously improving employment conditions could create additional problems.
Need for Substantive Solutions and Consultation, Says Committee Chair
The Chair of the Health Committee and DISY MP, Savia Orphanidou, stated that the discussion on the shortage of nurses in Cyprus must continue, with the aim of finding solutions that will effectively address the problem of understaffing.
As she noted, during the first debate, the positions of the nurses’ unions were heard; they highlighted the problems caused by the absence of collective bargaining agreements in several sectors, as well as the need to ensure decent working conditions and satisfactory wages for nursing staff.
Ms. Orfanidou expects the Ministry of Health to resume the consultation process in order to determine whether there is room for agreement, particularly regarding the implementation of collective bargaining agreements.
Political parties call for an assessment of actual needs
AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou raised questions about the effectiveness of OKYPY’s planning, noting that while an increase of 228 employees had been projected, hiring ultimately amounted to about half that number.
AKEL requested an official update on the implementation of the agreed-upon staffing structures in public hospitals, as well as the completion and submission of the Capacity Planning document, so that planning is based on the actual needs of the hospitals.
Ms. Nikolaou reiterated that addressing understaffing cannot come at the expense of the labor rights, wages, and working conditions of nursing staff.
DIKO MP Andreas Apostolou stated that the proposal to hire nurses from third countries must be examined with the utmost seriousness, prioritizing the quality of health services and patient safety.
Citing the approximately 1,500 individuals who have studied nursing but left the profession, mainly due to working conditions, he emphasized the need to assess the actual needs of hospitals and provide clear answers regarding the number of licenses that may be granted, their duration, and the safeguards regarding the professional competence of those who will be hired.
He also made it clear that no emergency procedure can be accepted without first ensuring the labor rights of nurses and the prospects of young Cypriots who choose to study nursing.
ALMA MP Litsa Drousiotou, in her own statement, noted that the debate on the legislative amendments raised serious concerns among professional and labor organizations, particularly regarding professional competence, communication with patients, and working conditions.
He emphasized that a substantive examination is needed of the reasons why, according to the labor unions, approximately 1,500 nurses have left the profession, as well as the measures that could encourage them to return and remain in the profession.
Source: CNA
