Source: CNA
The Council of Ministers adopted on Wednesday an updated policy that allows businesses to employ more staff from third countries.
Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Kyriacos Koushos has presented the new updated policy for the employment of foreigners that was adopted by the Cabinet. The updated policy increases to 50% from 30% the percentage of foreign workers that a company is allowed to employ if it cannot find local or EU staff and provided that it has in place a collective agreement.
In statements after the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Koushos said that some distortions and weaknesses have been identified during the years when the strategy for the employment of foreign workforce was implemented. He added that, therefore, it was deemed necessary to update this strategy with the aim of ensuring a foreign workforce for the businesses.
Noting that Cypriots and EU citizens have priority in the labor market he said that until now there has been a relative liberalization in the agricultural and livestock sector.
Up to now, businesses could employ third-country nationals for up to 30% of their workforce. This percentage remains but when a company applies a sectoral or business collective agreement it will be able to employ up to 50% third-country nationals provided that it cannot find a local or EU employee.
