Brussels, 26/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 26 September, the European Commission decided to take Cyprus to the European Court of Justice because it considers that former Cypriot civil servants are discriminated against with regard to their pension and unpaid holiday rights when they go to work in another member state. This situation appears to go against the principle of the free movement of workers.
The Commission considers that there are two problems that co-exist in Cypriot legislation. The first involves the way in which the age criterion is applied for determining pension rights. A civil servant aged over 45 can benefit from a given amount when they retire and from a consolidated pension at the age of 55, if they have worked for at least five years. Nonetheless, for those who have decided to leave before the age of 45, these benefits are determined by the place where they have worked after they have left their post. If these workers decide to work in another member state, they lose the right to a consolidated pension. The second problem involves unpaid holidays and the nine-month maximum for those who have left the country. For anything over this nine-month period, the civil servant is obliged to resign or face the threat of disciplinary measures. Civil servants who decide to remain in Cyprus have the right for several years. (JK/transl.fl)