A recommendation to remove gender discrimination against female NCOs of the AF in the field of employment was made by Maria Stylianou-Lottidi, Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights Protection as an Equality and Anti-Discrimination Body.
In an email to the Director General of the Ministry of Defence which she communicated, she states that the investigation carried out, following relevant complaints submitted to her by female non-commissioned officers, had led to the conclusion that the complainants had been victims of prohibited discrimination on the grounds of sex, both in access to employment and career advancement.
She adds that the consultations provided for by law were held at her office on 12 and 31 October 2022 and were attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the complainants' lawyer, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Public Administration and Personnel.
Following the deliberations, the Commissioner recommended that "the Ministry of Defence take immediate steps to implement its proposal to grant an additional increment within the pay scale applicable to all women NCOs from the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th ranks, including those from the said ranks who were appointed to the post of Sergeant and subsequently left the service for any reason. The Ministry of Defence cannot withdraw from the above proposal except in the event of a possible new agreement, which would be in the interest of the affected women NCOs," it said.
"In order for the above to be implemented from 1/1/2023, the Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, should provide for a relevant appropriation to be included in the Supplementary Budget to be placed before the House of Representatives within the next few days for enactment," the Commissioner concludes."
Source: CNA
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