Union pushes for paid bereavement and marriage leave

Paid bereavement and marriage leave for the wider public sector and private sector employees was requested on Wednesday by Equality union (Isotita).

In a letter to the ministry of labour, the union proposed that employees be given the right to up to five days of paid bereavement leave in the event of the death of a spouse, parent, child, sibling or parent-in-law.

This period of leave, the union stated, would allow those affected sufficient time to grieve and make the necessary arrangements without the added stress of work commitments.

As regards the introduction of marriage leave Isotita proposed that employees be entitled to up to five days of paid leave stating that this period of leave would allow beneficiaries to have time to make necessary preparations and celebrate this important milestone in their lives.

The union proposed the creation of a similar institutionalised framework for the establishment of bereavement and marriage leave and provision of related benefits from social welfare services for the private sector.

According to Isotita such leave and allowance provisions have been in place in other European countries, such as France, Spain, Ireland and Malta, for years.

“We believe that the introduction of these provisions in Cyprus will not only be in line with the practices of other European countries but, more importantly, will significantly contribute to the welfare of all workers,” the letter states.