[PIO] Statement by the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Mr.Yiannis Panagiotou on the agreement between the social partners on the

The agreement between the social partners on the participation of foreign workers in labour market staffing is an important development that confirms the high level of cooperation between the state and the organisations representing workers and employers.

I would like to thank the leaders of trade unions and employers' organisations for once again demonstrating the seriousness and maturity that has characterised them over the years, managing to reach mutually acceptable agreements on complex and difficult issues.

Particularly in the current context of the major external challenges affecting our country's labour market, internal normality based on cooperation and unity is a necessity to which we all respond responsibly.

The text of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on the participation of foreign workers in staffing the labour market agreed between the social partners provides for the following:

"The social partners confirm their mutual commitment to constructive cooperation for the appropriate staffing of the labour market through effective advisory support to the state, for the development of the economy and for the cohesion of society."

To this end, the following are agreed. [/LIST]

The Committee will be informed and positioned in an advisory capacity on the staffing needs of the market according to requests submitted for work permits for foreign workers, on the capacities of the available domestic human resources according to statistical data, and for enterprises and organisations referred to the application of collective labour agreements when submitting the relevant requests, as well as on the submission and investigation of complaints.

1. Improve the living conditions of foreign workers through the formulation of appropriate standards and the provision of appropriate facilities.

Improving the framework includes defining acceptable housing standards and facilities, defining responsibilities for monitoring the implementation of the suitability of infrastructure, defining the consequences for deviations from the established standards, and varying the rate of deduction from the salary paid for the provision of housing.

1. Evaluate and update the existing Strategy for the Employment of Foreign Workers to formulate an agreed content.

The update will be based on the lessons learned from the implementation of the existing strategy and will be completed, with a time horizon of timely preparation for the next peak period, and in the event that reaching a commonly accepted agreement is not feasible, a proposal will be submitted by the Minister of Labour and Social Security.

To start implementing the provisions of the Agreement, the Committee will meet after the Easter holidays.

Finally, I would like to reiterate the Government's commitment to social dialogue in order to seek the maximum possible consensus for the development of the economy and the cohesion of society through the implementation of the President's Governance Programme.

(EATH)
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