MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL INSURANCE DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR

1. MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL INSURANCEDEPARTMENT OF LABOUR The International Initiatives of the Department of Labour

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CYPRUS ECONOMY Predominant and constantly expanding services sector (73,0% of total employment in 2007) Relatively flexible labour market with a high employment rate (71.2%) and low unemployment rate (3,4%) (LFS 2007 figures) Economic growth rate 3,2%, in real terms (2007) Out of the total gainfully employed population, 33,0% are higher education graduates.

3. VACANCIES AND PLACEMENTS BY OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORY in 2007

4. UNEMPLOYMENT

5. Labour Market Demand Agriculture and animal husbandry (unskilled labour) Hotels and restaurants (Waiters, Bartenders, Cooks, Kitchen Assistants, Animators, etc) Construction (Builders, molders, scaffolders, heavy machinery drivers, civil engineers, stone carvers, welders, Metal Sheet workers, etc.) Refrigerator / Air Conditioning Technicians Wholesale and retail trade ( Shop assistants, clerks, etc) Health and social work personnel (Nurses, Nurse Assistants, Personal Care workers, etc.) Computer technicians, programmers Drivers (Taxi, bus, lorry) Car Mechanics, painters, panel beaters Bakers, Bakery assistants Unskilled Labor ( meat-markets, store houses, etc)

6. Employment of foreign workers in Cyprus

7. Foreign Workers By Origin And Economic Activity

8. EU Workers by Country of origin in July 2007

9. The Structure of EURES Cyprus EURESManager The Deptof Labour EURES Coordinator EURES ΙΤ Manager Headof PES Line Managers District Labour Officers 2 EURES Advisers Centrally + 6 EA´s at District Level

10. EURES Cyprus – 2008/9 planned activities • 3 bilateral recruiting projects with Slovakia, Hungary and Lithuania – Seasonal Tourist Industry • Recruitment Project with Norway in the Tourism Industry- recruit students for their Practical training in Cyprus • Training of 2 new EURES Adviser in 2008 (Already started) • The Annual European Recruitment Fair in Larnaca in March 2009. • Participation in job fairs, seminars and study visits in Europe • Study visits in Bulgaria and Romania for the recruitment of Tourism school students to do their practical training in Cyprus • Job fairs in Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Greece and Poland,

11. EURES Cyprus – 2008/9 planned activities • Participation in the Network´s meetings, working groups and advanced training. • Update of the data bases on the EURES portal (biannually) • Information Awareness campaign “European Job Days 2008” in September –Information Seminars in Larnaca, Limassol and Pafos • Information Campaign targeting Employers (print media) • Training Seminar of PES Staff concerning the Quality of Vacancies advertised in EURES (early 2009) • Various publications/leaflets/booklets/ • Print of 1000 copies of the DVD “Destination Cyprus” 98,000 euros, 95% financingby EU.

12. A small but effective Team • Nicosia District Office: • Mrs Stella Appiou – sappiou@dl.mlsi.gov.cy, tel: 22403014 • Ms Theodora Varnava – tvarnava@dl.mlsi.gov.cy, tel:22403000 • Larnaca District Office • Mr Minas Hadjicostanti – mhadjiconstanti@dl.mlsi.gov.cy, tel: 24805328 • Limassol District Office • Mrs Maria Pitsillidou- mpitsillidou@dl.mlsi.gov.cy, tel: 25827353 • Pafos District Office • Mrs Panayiota Panayi- ppanayi@dl.mlsi.gov.cy, tel: 26821646 • Paralimni Local Office • Mrs Sofia Papetta- spapetta@dl.mlsi.gov.cy, tel: 23812052 • Centrally: Mr George Spyrou: gspyrou@dl.mlsi.gov.cy, tel: 22400817 • Mr Antonis Kafouros: akafouros@dl.mlsi.gov.cy, Tel: 22400820 • Mrs Soula Alexandrou, salexandrou@dl.mlsi.gov.cy, 22400836

13. Euroguidance Cyprus • A very small operation of the Dept.of Labour • Started operations in 2003 • Core objective : - Providing quality information on lifelong guidance and mobility for learning purposes: • Maintenance and enrichment of the PLOTEUS content concerning education institutions in Cyprus, • Maintenance and enrichment of the content and context of the Euroguidance Cyprus website to provide information about the Cyprus education system, studying in Cyprus, etc, • Answer to inquiries • Promote the European Dimension in Guidance to the Guidance Community in Cyprus

14. Core objective 2 - Promoting the European dimension in guidance Promoting the European dimension in Guidance by taking part in study visits in other countries. Our priority in 2009 is to send eight of the new Employment Counsellors to visit other countries, experience new working methods, good practices and learn about their guidance systems and how it is being provided. • Active involvement in the further development of the Network. During 2008, NRCG Cyprus will take part in the “Further Training” Working group, together with Poland, Finland Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. • Be actively involved in the ELGPN activities. Euroguidance Cyprus is one of the two Country Representatives to the Policy Network.

15. Promoting the European Dimension of Guidance at National Level • Taking part in all Career fairs, Education fairs and other related events in Cyprus, dissemination of information about the Centre, the Euroguidance network and the Ploteus Portal • Established cooperation with the guidance community in Cyprus. We act as information providers about policy developments at EU level, good practices in other member states, the national education and training systems in the EU and any opportunities about exchange of study visits and other mutual beneficial projects. • Cooperate nationally with other European Networks in Cyprus such as EURES and EUROPASS, NARIC and EUROPE Direct. • Organised joint events

16. Direct/primary target groups (guidance community): • All Employment Counsellors and Public Employment Services Counsellors dealing with the unemployed or people wishing to find better employment. 18 Employment Counsellors and 45 PES Counsellors are currently employed by PES • All Counselors of the Ministry of Education and Culture dealing with students. 110 Education Counselors are currently employed and placed in Secondary Schools and Lyciums all over Cyprus. Each Counsellor is responsible for 450-600 pupils. • All Counselors at the Counseling Services of all private secondary schools. 13 private secondary schools operate in Cyprus employing 18 Counselors • All Career Counselors and other staff working at the Career Offices of all Tertiary Institutions (public and private): 23 in total • Youth Information Centers: 95 Youth centers operate in Cyprus with more than 10,000 members

17. Indirect target groups • Students at Secondary Schools looking for a Higher Institution • Parents looking for an education institution for their children • Unemployed looking to acquire new skills or continue their education • Workers looking for part time courses or other education opportunities in order to develop new skills

18. RETOUR • Mediterranean cooperation for the return of their citizens back into their home labour market • Aim: to create a useful counseling tool to be used by PES advisers In order to help repatriates find employment • Take into consideration the skills acquired during their stay abroad/new knowledge/new competences.

19. RETOUR Indirect impact: • The beginning of a closer dialogue with the ex-pats concerning employment issues • Visits to countries with large numbers of ex-pats • Printing of information about the services provided by PES • Create a useful Web site with all relevant information concerning the “return issues” • Disseminate information on suitable vacancies

20. Mobility Partnership with Moldova A pilot project encouraged by the EU in order to encourage the legal migration The Cyprus objective of the above project is to enhance bilateral cooperation on issues related to labour migration through: • Communicating information to Moldova authorities on job offers and terms and conditions of employment on Cyprus • Organising recruitment activities in the country of origin • Setting up a mechanism for dealing with problems that may arise in the receiving country • Appoint contact persons in the receiving country for providing information in the areas of labour legislation and social security • Establishing a joint committee to monitor and promote new issues related to the above project • Draw up guide in the language of the country of origin providing information on employment issues relevant in the receiving country • Exchange information in the area of private employment agencies

21. Partnership Framework 2006 December Council Conclusions: Encourage mobility partnerships and circular migration projects with third countries 2007 June Council Conclusions Stressed the importance of such partnerships and called the Commission to start the dialogue with two countries, the Republic of Moldova and Cape Verde (on a pilot base). Progress report – June 2008 2008 February The Slovenian Presidency and the Commission sent an open invitation to all M-S through their Perm. Representations. In what areas concerning mobility they wish to get involved? What will be the source of funding in case of involvement? March –May : Discussions- Dialogue with Moldova 15 Countries showed interest in the dialogue ( Greece, Cyprus, France, Czech Rep, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Italy, Poland)

22. Partnership Framework (2) • 2008 June – Final Version of Joint Declaration on a Mobility Partnership between the EU and Moldova: • Will be signed by the Ministers of Interior during the June Council Meeting in Slovenia (5/6/2008) • More partnerships may follow with other neighbouring countries after an evaluation of the partnership with Moldova in 2009. • 2009-11: Partnership Project with Moldovan PES, strengthening the capacity of Moldova to manage labour and return migration • Financed under “Targeted Projects in the field of migration and asylum” • 3,000,000 euros budget for 3 years-80% finance by the Commission

23. Partnership Project with Moldovan PES, strengthening the capacity of Moldova to manage labour and return migration – (2009-11) • Countries interested in partnership with Moldova: • Sweden: Swedish Public Employment Service – Leader • Cyprus: The Department of Labour (PES) • Greece: Ministry of Interior • Italy: Ministry of Social Solidarity • Germany: Centre of Migration • Poland: Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Labour • Romania: Ministry of Justice, Min. of Foreign Aff. and PES • Hungary: Ministry of Justice, Min. of Foreign Aff. and PES • Slovakia: Ministry of Labour The project is open for more countries to join at a later stage

24. Partnership Project with Moldovan PES, strengthening the capacity of Moldova to manage labour and return migration – (2009-11) • Overall Objective : To Promote Legal mobility between Moldova and the EU • Specific objective 1: To encourage Moldovans willing to emigrate to the EU to make use of legal channels or emigration, facilitate them to find jobs, matching skills or acquire such skills • Specific Objective 2: To facilitate smooth reintegration into the Moldovan Labour Market, Help Moldovan migrants to make the best possible use of the skills and competences acquired from migration

25. Partnership Project with Moldovan PES, strengthening the capacity of Moldova to manage labour and return migration – (2009-11) • Specific objective 1 – indicative activities: • Experts support to Moldovan authorities, exchange of best practices, study visits • Dissemination of information on labour and administrative issues • Matching of vacancies-cooperation of the PES, organise job fairs • Tailor made pre departure trainings, “Know before you go” campaigns • Specific Objective 2- indicative activities: • Establishment of Moldovan Help desks in main destinations • Organization of job fairs in EU countries for Moldovan citizens • Provision of information about job vacancies in Moldova • Provision of support prior departure • Creation of a CV and vacancy data base in Moldovan PES, call centre • Support for new “start-ups” by Moldovan authorities

26. Thank you for your attention