Labour Ministry Issues New Health-Testing Rules for Vehicle Painters and Bus Drivers

Two New Decrees Target Specific High-Exposure Roles

The labour ministry has issued two decrees establishing mandatory medical and laboratory testing requirements for two distinct groups of workers: those employed in vehicle painting shops and professional bus drivers, Labour Minister Marinos Mousiottas announced on Tuesday, 1 September.

What the Testing Will Involve

Under the new rules, covered workers will undergo a general clinical examination alongside specialised assessments including a full lung-function test and a hearing test, plus laboratory work covering a complete blood count, biochemical tests and urinalysis. The decrees set out both the type of testing required and how long results remain valid.

Rules Target Chemical Exposure and Driver Fitness

Officials said the measures are designed to address two separate risk profiles: workers who handle chemical substances capable of harming human health, chiefly in the context of vehicle-painting work, and bus drivers, for whom regular health monitoring bears directly on road safety given their responsibility for passengers. The two decrees have been published on the labour inspection department's website for employers and workers to consult.

Part of Wider Push on Workplace Health Standards

The announcement adds a further layer of formal oversight to occupational health rules in sectors where exposure risks or public safety responsibilities are considered elevated, following a period in which Cyprus has been revisiting several health-related regulatory frameworks across employment and professional licensing.