Indicator history

There are various examples of one-off events such as seminars or conferences. Their impact as single instances is however questionable. There are few measures of a certain duration specifically designed to support migrants; these are usually geared towards empowering migrants rather than institutionalising checks and controls that can eradicate racism and discrimination in employment. Some of the mesures which amount to more than just one-off events are listed below.

Action plan against trafficking: On 22.04.2010 a new national action plan against trafficking for the years 2010-2012 was adopted by the Council of Ministers. The plan provides for extensive awareness-raising measures; revision of the law regarding the operation of job agencies recruiting foreign workers for work in Cyprus; measures to inform foreign workers of the risks and support services including translation of the employment contracts in the languages of the victims; improving the mechanism for the identification of victims; improving support and protection services such as setting up jointly with NGOs a helpline, assessment of the needs of the victims, assessment of the operation of the safe shelter and investigation into the problems in the victims’ right to work; data collection; gaps and impediments in prosecution; research and many more.  A press release issued by the NGO MIGS on 24.03.2010 complained of lack of political will to combat trafficking in women, stating that the phenomenon continues despite the change in policy announced in November 2008 with regard to the visas. The NGO called upon the government to revise the policy for the entry and employment of women third country nationals that work in establishments considered high risk for trafficking. The previous national action plan against trafficking adopted in 2005 had attracted considerable criticism from national and international reports as most of its provisions were not implemented.

Scheme offering incentives to hire persons belonging to vulnerable groups: A scheme was launched by the Ministry of Labour entitled “Scheme offering incentives to hire persons belonging to vulnerable groups, which is co-funded by European Social Fund and Republic of Cyprus under the program Employment Human Capital and Social Cohesion 2007-2013”. The scheme aims at supporting ‘vulnerable groups’ to enter the labour market, offering incentives to employers to hire persons from vulnerable groups. The definition of the term includes, inter alia, members of national minorities who require to develop linguistic skills, acquire vocational training or professional experience in order to improve their prospects for access to stable employment, and identified victims of trafficking. The scheme addresses in general all persons belonging to vulnerable social groups over the age of 15 who are Cypriot or EU nationals or third country citizens who reside legally in the Republic and have the right to work and a permanent residence in the area under the control of the Republic for at least 12 months. The scheme comprises of subsiding employers who will hire unemployed persons from the vulnerable groups and of paying travelling expenses to the persons so hired. The subsidy will be provided only for the first year of employment and will amount to 65 per cent of the annual cost to the employer for the employee in question, with a ceiling of 13,000 Euros per person hired. The scheme applies for the period 19.03.2010-30.06.2014. The scheme is funded jointly by the European Social Fund and the Republic of Cyprus and the budget is 3,000,000 Euros.

Greek language classes: In October 2010 the Ministry of Education and Culture launched a program of free of charge Greek language courses for migrants and non-Greek speakers, to be implemented by the Adult Education Centres. The courses will be available to migrants who live in Cyprus, over the age of 15, regardless of their level of Greek. In order to facilitate all levels, the course will be offered to beginners, for persons that have basic oral and written skills and those who can communicate adequately at speaking and writing level. The programme which is co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Republic of Cyprus, is aimed at preventing social exclusion while at the same time increasing the economically active and employed persons amongst vulnerable groups. The initiative aims at an expansion of the labour market and the promotion of migrants’ social integration and equal opportunities as the language skills they will acquire will make easier their contact with the local population, as well as facilitate access to the labour market and to political and cultural activities. Teachings will take place during the school periods 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2010 and 2014-2015, between the months of November and May. They will be offered in small groups of 10 to 15 persons, with the class lasting between 50 to 90 minutes, twice a week. Other than the benefit of learning Greek, no incentives are offered to migrant workers to attend these classes. It should be borne in mind that migrants workers often have to work exhaustively long hours and have little prospect of staying in Cyprus for longer than what their four-year visa prescribes and therefore little interest in learning a language that is spoken only in Greece and Cyprus.