It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to today's award ceremony of the companies that have been certified in 2022 by the National Business Certification Body for the implementation of Good Practices for Gender Equality in the Working Environment.
Today we are rewarding employers who are leading the way in breaking down stereotypes and promoting a culture of gender equality through their policies, internal processes and initiatives. This was precisely the purpose of the establishment of the National Business Certification Body in 2014, a body based on the tripartite cooperation between the Ministry of Labour, Employers and Trade Unions, which has proven over time to be a catalyst in the labour scene in Cyprus.
I extend my warmest congratulations to all of you who are being honoured today. You are morally rewarded for your values, goals and innovative policies in the field of HR management. You are being rewarded for your contribution to the collective effort of the State and the social partners for a labour market free of segregation and discrimination, which provides workers with the necessary guarantees and facilities for equal access to the various professions, equal pay, equal opportunities for advancement, the possibility of balancing work and family responsibilities and protection against all forms of harassment.
It is with great satisfaction that we see more and more companies and organisations recognising that fostering conditions of equal opportunities and equal treatment between their employers is the best way to attract, retain and utilise high quality human resources. These employers have earned the trust and respect of their employees and of society.
I would like to stress that interest in certification is shown by companies and organisations from various sectors of economic activity. To date, research and academic institutions, companies operating in the industrial and commercial sectors, medical institutions, banking and insurance organisations, and companies providing legal and other advisory services, among others, have been certified. We are particularly pleased with the participation of companies from the information technology, software development and digital applications sectors, areas which are also receiving attention from the European Union with regard to the need to promote greater employment of women. It is important to stress that public law organisations, as employers, should also set an example in terms of promoting culture and equality.
The degree and longevity in the commitment of the administrations and management of organisations to the principles of gender equality is perhaps the most important ingredient for their successful accreditation. This is demonstrated by the cases of employers who, four years after their certification, have applied for and obtained renewal or even upgrading of their certification.
To date, the National Certification Body has received applications for certification from a total of 67 organisations and companies, of which 30 have renewed their certification. It is very encouraging that the institution of certification has been embraced by the business world and organisations, which allows us to be optimistic about the future development of the Body's operation and the achievement of the objectives we have set.
I assure you that the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance will continue to work methodically to establish the conditions that will contribute to the creation of a non-discriminatory labour market, both through the continuous improvement of the legislative framework and through the implementation of the new legislation.
