Eleftheria Paizanou
The employment of the 142 unemployed who monitor the measures taken to deal with the spread of COVID-19 is extended for another three months. The extension of the existing contracts for the provision of services by the unemployed will cost the state approximately € 469 thousand.
According to data sent to Parliament, out of the total amount of € 469 thousand, € 426 thousand relates to the remuneration of 142 supervisors and € 42,600 relates to the travel they receive. Specifically, the monthly earnings received by each supervisor of the measures against COVID are € 1,000, for 40 working hours per week, as distributed by each competent department. Also, the unemployed as service providers are obliged to pay contributions to the Social Insurance Fund as self-employed.
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For a year now, the monitors have been conducting market controls as part of the imposed controls to limit the spread of the coronavirus. In particular, they carry out systematic inspections with emphasis on safety and health in the workplace and in retail trade.
It should be noted that the inspections carried out by the supervisors are complementary to the inspections of the Police and other services of the public service.
Based on the data sent to the Parliament, out of the 142 unemployed who have been hired, 46 will cover the needs that arise in Limassol, 35 in Nicosia, 26 in Paphos, 21 in Larnaca and 14 in the Famagusta Free Zone. In fact, most of the unemployed are absorbed by the Ministries of Labor and Agriculture due to the large range of companies they have to control. The departments of the Ministry of Agriculture have absorbed 37 people and the Ministry of Labor 30.
In detail, 18 supervisors carry out the audits that fall under the responsibilities of the veterinary services, another 13 participate in the audits of the Department of Agriculture and 6 of the Department of Forests.
Regarding the Ministry of Labor, 9 supervisors participate in the audits carried out by the Department of Labor Inspection. An additional 8 people were absorbed in the Social Welfare Services, 7 in the Labor Relations Department and 6 in the Labor Department of the Ministry of Labor.
At the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Health, which employ 20 supervisors (40 in total). Another 16 supervisors are participating in the inspections carried out by the Ministry of Education. In addition, another 11 are utilized by the Ministry of Shipping, 6 by the Ministry of Transport and 2 by the Ministry of Interior. Today, the members of the parliamentary Finance Committee will decide whether the € 469 thousand budget will be released.
