Nicosia: The European Commission announced on Wednesday infringement procedures against Cyprus concerning labour rights and worker health protection.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Cyprus, along with Luxembourg, received a letter of formal notice for failing to transpose Directive (EU) 2022/2041 on adequate minimum wages. This directive aims to strengthen social fairness, boost productivity and competitiveness, and promote collective bargaining on wage-setting. Member States had a deadline of November 15, 2024, to transpose the directive into national law, but Cyprus has not yet notified any transposition measures to the Commission.
At the same time, Cyprus was included in the list of six member states, along with Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia, that received a reasoned opinion for failing to fully transpose Directive (EU) 2023/2668 on protecting workers from asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a dangerous carcinogenic substance, with approximately 75% of workplace cancers in the EU linked to it. The directive includes a reduction in the exposure limit from 0.1 to 0.01 fibres per cubic centimetre, based on the latest scientific and technological developments. Member States had a deadline of December 21, 2025, to transpose most of the directive's provisions, while the remaining provisions must be transposed by December 21, 2029.
The member states involved now have two months to respond and take the necessary measures to comply. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may proceed with a reasoned opinion for the first case on minimum wages, or refer the second case on asbestos to the Court of Justice of the European Union, with possible financial penalties.