People convicted for minor drug offences will be able to apply for a professional driver’s licence after a few years if an amendment to the law passes, which MPs hope will address the shortage of bus drivers.

Green party MP Charalambos Theopemptou told the Cyprus Mail on Tuesday that the amendment aimed at solving two problems in one go – the problem with ex-convicts entering the labour market and the “immense lack of professional drivers”.

The amendment was proposed by all members of the House legal committee and was submitted to the plenary last week.

Currently, a clean criminal record is needed to be eligible to apply for a professional driver’s licence for a bus or taxi.

Akel MP Andreas Pashiourtides told the Cyprus Mail it was “unfair” for someone who used substances 20 or 30 years ago to be banned for life from obtaining or renewing their professional driver’s licence.

“There are cases of drivers who were professional drivers of buses or taxis for 30 or 40 years and now that they have reached the age when they need to renew their licence because it has expired, they are being denied renewal,” Pashiourtides said.

He added that “some of these people are 60 years old and this is the only job they know.

“There is legislation now that says drug users who voluntarily enter a programme are not convicted, if they are just charged with possession and use,” Pashiourtides said.

The MP said “these people should not be excluded from their job because 20 or 30 years ago they committed an offence.”

Theopemptou said “someone may have done something stupid when he was 16 and now at 30, 40 or 50 he still can’t get a professional driver’s licence.”

He added that the MPs had heard of many such cases.

“We are trying to give them a chance to get a job,” he said.

The MP added that “you can’t still punish these people so many years later.”

The exception is requested for people who were convicted for the illegal possession, smoking and/or use of any controlled substance in small amounts.

They will also have to present a negative blood test for the use of substances every six months after obtaining a professional driver’s licence.

According to the legislation in force, any person convicted for sexual offences or drug trafficking is banned from applying for a professional licence.

The proposed amendment views banning them for life as a disproportional violation of the right to work.

The ban concerns drivers of vehicles transporting the public only. Lorry drivers are not included.

Many people who had been convicted for possession or use of substances were holders of a professional driver’s licence until the total ban was passed in 2019, which the MPs signing the proposal say is not allowed under the rule of law.