Cyprus Labour Ministry considers two options to support parents before schools reopen

Cyprus’s Labour Ministry is examining two ways to help working parents during the days when their leave has already ended but schools are still closed: a direct subsidy for families or an increase in the parental leave benefit. Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas said this on the “Enimerosi Tora” programme on Omega TV.

This concerns the annual gap in the first weeks of September: parents return to work immediately after their summer holidays, while classes begin only in the middle of the month. This school year, lessons at secondary schools will start on 7 September, and at primary schools on 14 September.

For many families, the only option currently available is parental leave, but it is only partially paid, and a worker’s income falls by approximately 30% of their salary. According to the minister, the number of applications for such leave has increased significantly recently.

“We are considering solutions: subsidies for parents or an increase in the benefit,” Mousiouttas said. As an alternative to financial measures, he mentioned organising childcare spaces where children could be occupied until the first day of school.

The minister did not provide any specific deadlines. According to him, the issue is high on the government’s agenda, but it will be addressed after the major chapter of pension reform has been completed. Until then, the task is to make the existing parental leave more convenient for families.