Although labor market indicators deteriorated immediately after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, positive growth rates have been recorded since the second quarter of 2021, while unemployment is at its lowest point in 20 years, he said today. The Minister of Labor, Welfare and Social Insurance, Zeta Aimilianidou, who said that these data prove that the Cypriot economy and labor market are based on solid foundations and provide the guarantees for the implementation of even more ambitious policies for the benefit of employees and especially for the benefit of low-paid workers.
In her greeting, which was read on her behalf, the Director General of the Ministry, Andreas Zachariadis, at the Conference of the Cyprus Network Against Poverty entitled “The active participation of people experiencing poverty in decision-making centers and organized civil society” , Ms. Amilianidou said that the Republic of Cyprus through the Ministry of Labor, Welfare and Social Insurance has set its own ambitious goals for action to increase and improve the opportunities and working conditions of socially disadvantaged groups of human resources using its funds EU to support social inclusion, promote social innovation, develop partnerships and control the potential of the social economy and better coordinate policies between Member States.
He said “the fight against poverty, social exclusion and discrimination is at the heart of the priorities of the European Commission, but also of the Republic of Cyprus as a member of the large European family, seeking to strengthen the participation and cohesion of European society and to contribute to equal access to opportunities and resources for all citizens “.
He added that “Europe has recently set a new goal of reducing poverty and social exclusion by 1530 by 15 million by promoting action to increase and improve the opportunities and working conditions of socially disadvantaged people”, adding that “The actions promoted fall into various areas such as education, employment, social protection, housing and health.”
Ms. Aimilianidou stated that as of yesterday, with a Decision of the Council of Ministers, the highly successful Plans for subsidizing the recruitment of the unemployed, people with disabilities, chronic patients and young people up to 29 years old have been re-announced, noting that these actions and policies will continue.
According to the Minister of Labor, the Welfare Benefits Management Service (WIPO) of the Ministry of Labor, Welfare and Social Insurance implements mechanisms for activating EUE beneficiaries for those who are able to work, adding that beneficiaries are informed about their obligation to participate in special training programs and community service but also to accept any job offered to them.
“Particular importance is given to the design of Training Plans in order to gain work experience and new skills. “The goal is to facilitate the activation of beneficiaries and to avoid being trapped in the benefits”, he noted.
In cases where it is found that there are conditions that may limit the chances of getting a job, the Ministry of Education is asked to include the beneficiary in a personalized approach program where the Public Employment Service (PES) reviews the desired occupations, optimizing their CV candidates and / or referral to training programs, he added.
Ms. Aimilianidou also stated that “in cases where the beneficiary may face other special circumstances, she is referred for social intervention to the Social Welfare Services for further support through the programs of the Social Welfare Services”, while noting that “as an additional incentive for SEN beneficiaries, income from work is not fully taken into account in the calculation of SNE, in order to provide an incentive to stay or enter the labor market “.
He also said that “as a special incentive for young people, most of the income from work from the beneficiary's child is not taken into account as income” and added that “even in cases where the beneficiary works, he has the obligation to register with the PES for finding a more lucrative job, so that he can become completely independent “.
He went on to stress that in the case of beneficiaries who are unable to work, such as people with disabilities or retirees, the benefit provided is particularly high as these people do not have the opportunity to increase their income through employment “, adding that” especially for people with disabilities, the allowances provided through the EUE are up to 80% higher than the basic allowances “.
Source: KYPE
