House passes bill on first-day workplace safety training

Parliament has approved a bill aimed at strengthening worker protection, requiring employers to provide health and safety training from an employee’s first day at work and to keep staff on full pay and benefits throughout that period.

The bill, tabled by Akel MPs Andreas Kafkalias, Christos Christofias and Giorgos Koukoumas, amends the occupational safety and health law to tighten employers’ obligations on workplace instruction, education, training and supervision.

Under the new provisions, employees must be given the necessary information and guidance from day one, in a language understandable to them.

The rapporteurs said the changes were intended to strengthen prevention and improve protection for workers exposed to risks in the workplace through a stronger legal framework on education and training.