Low birth rate in Cyprus

Subject: Low birth rate in Cyprus

Cyprus has a birth rate 1.32, the third lowest in the EU, where the average is 1.59.

The four possible root causes of this decline are the lower wages of workers, the relatively short duration of parental leave and the low maternity and paternity benefits compared to other EU countries, and the very low government spending on health.

European Statistical Office data put the annual earnings of Cypriot workers at EUR 24 249, compared to an EU average of EUR 37 085. According to a European Parliament report, Cyprus is lagging far behind regarding both the duration of parental leave and the level of maternity and paternity benefits. In Cyprus, the mother is entitled to paid leave of 18 weeks, of which one week is compulsory, while the father is entitled to two weeks’ paid leave.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

– What measures will it take to achieve a work-life balance for European workers and to avoid such discrepancies between EU Member States?

Answer given by Ms Thyssen on behalf of the European Commission

(7 June 2019)

The Commission has launched a number of initiatives within the framework of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including to support parents’ work-life balance. In 2017, it put forward a proposal for a directive on Work-Life Balanc e (1) with new or higher EU minimum standards on family-related leaves and flexible working arrangements. The proposal is currently in the final stage of adoption following political agreement in January 2019, which was voted by the European Parliament in April 2019. When finally adopted, the directive, will introduce the rights to 10 working days of compensated paternity leave, and 5 working days of carers leave per year, per worker. It will also strengthen the existing right to 4 months of parental leave by making 2 out of the 4 months non-transferable and adequately compensated, as well as strengthen the current right to request flexible working arrangements by extending its scope and making it available to all parents with children up to at least 8, and to all carers.

In addition, the Commission adopted a communication which includes several actions such as ensuring EU funding, data collection and monitoring tools supporting Member States in their provision of childcare services.

In order to comply with the directive’s minimum requirements, Cyprus will have to introduce the right to 5 days of carers’ leave per year per worker, as well as adequate compensation for the 2 non-transferable months of parental leave, currently unpaid. Moreover, it will have to extend the scope of the right to request flexible working arrangements.

Through the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Commission also strengthened the European policy framework regarding workers’ rights to fair wages and adequate minimum wages.

⋅1∙ COM(2017) 253 final. | | ( | | )