Filenews 28 January 2023
More accessible procedures for the employment of a domestic helper were established by the Civil Registry and Migration Department, with an emphasis on vulnerable people and people with disabilities. The employment of domestic workers is now based on reduced income criteria but also on the basis of needs.
Responding to the questions of "F", the director of the Civil Registry and Migration Department, Maria Adamidou, points out the concern that exists in the Department from the abandonment without reason of the employers, which is why the procedures were simplified so that the employment of a domestic worker is easy, while if someone leaves an employer unnecessarily it means his mandatory departure. Domestic workers in Cyprus exceeded 21,000, with Nepal being the first country of origin.
-What are the new criteria for the employment of a domestic worker?
-The Civil Registry and Migration Department recently proceeded to a revision of the criteria and the relevant fees for the employment of domestic workers in the Republic. The purpose of the revision is to simplify the procedures and employment policy of domestic workers, mainly by adopting income criteria. The criteria no longer apply to children under 12 years of age and to elderly patients. They were abolished and replaced with income criteria that differ depending on the category of the beneficiary employer as follows:
►Families with an annual gross total family income of at least:
€24.000 without children.
€30,000 with one dependent child.
€36.000 with two dependent children.
€42.000
with three or more
dependent children.
►Single-parent families with an annual gross total family income of at least:
€24,000 with one dependent child.
€30.000 with two dependent children.
€36.000
with three or more dependent children.
►Single persons with an annual gross total income of at least €24,000.
►Persons over 65 years of age with an annual gross total family income of at least:
€24.000 for a couple.
€18.000 for solitary confinement.
At the same time, the specific needs of vulnerable and vulnerable groups of the population, which are excluded from income criteria, are taken into account.
This category includes people with disabilities, beneficiaries of a Guaranteed Minimum Income, beneficiaries of low pensioners' allowance and beneficiaries of an incapacity pension.
-How many domestic workers are there today in Cyprus and from which countries do they come from?
-The number of domestic workers holding a temporary residence and employment permit in the Republic amounts to 21,318. It is further noted that the majority of them come from the following countries:
► 6148 from Nepal
►5400 from the Philippines
► 4689 from Sri Lanka
► 3254 from India
► 1192 from Vietnam
-Are there any thoughts on increasing the salary of domestic workers?
-The existing salary set for domestic employment is the minimum monthly gross salary and amounts to €460. It is therefore up to the employer himself as to what salary he will provide to the employee.
There are many cases of employers providing a higher salary to the domestic worker they employ. It is noted that the amount of €460 does not include food and housing costs and therefore is not borne by the foreigner.
-What about cases where domestic workers come and in a short time leave their employers?
-The Ministry of Interior is particularly concerned about the abandonment of employers by domestic workers, especially in cases where the employer is an elderly person or a person with increased needs such as people with disabilities. That is why the Department does not approve the employment of a new employer if the previous one has been previously abandoned or if there is no written consent of the previous employer.
The ministry has also simplified the procedures for the employment of domestic workers, as experience has shown that the more cumbersome and complex the procedures are, the more frequent the phenomenon of abandonments by domestic workers. On the one hand, the limitation on the years of employment and, on the other hand, the limitation on the number of employers, led to increased incidents of abandonment. Considering the extent of the problem, the Ministry proceeded to lift the maximum stay in the Republic for domestic employment purposes as well as to limit the number of employers. For employment with more than three employers, specific conditions must be met.
For cases of abandonment or any violation of the terms of employment where a complaint is made to the Aliens and Immigration Service and a labour dispute arises, it is examined by the Department of Labor Relations, as the competent Department. When the investigation reveals a deliberate abandonment of the employer, then the domestic worker is informed that he cannot be employed elsewhere as well as of his obligation to leave the Republic.
Caregivers' licenses for people with disabilities
Regarding the request of the Association of Disabled People for the employment of a caregiver and not a domestic worker, the director of the TAM states that there is a need for the employment of a domestic worker in other categories of citizens, besides families, for whom the right cannot be denied.
That is why, he emphasizes, in consultation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance, efforts are being made to institutionalize employment contracts for caregivers. The aim is for people with disabilities, who have increased and special needs, to be able to employ caregivers and not domestic workers. The aim of this effort is to stop the abandonment of employers by domestic workers who are unable to cope with their duties and leave.
Finally, the guarantees, only a solemn declaration
Regarding the issue of guarantees where citizens were bound by the procedures, Mrs. Adamidou emphasizes that until recently, employers, according to the current legislation, were obliged to deposit a bank guarantee to cover any costs of removal of foreigners. The frequent abandonments as well as the submission of asylum applications kept the employers captive, who in order to be able to employ a new domestic worker had to pay a new guarantee each time. As a result, in 2019, the Ministry proceeded with an amendment of the relevant legislation and it is no longer required to deposit a bank guarantee for the purpose of employing third-country nationals in the Republic. Instead, employers submit a solemn declaration taking responsibility for covering the costs of repatriating foreign workers.
In the meantime, according to the president of the Federation of Private Labour Offices "Unity" Andreas Tsangarides, the new criteria have been determined based on the family and income situation of the employer. Such as families, single parents, single people and people over 65 years old, while previously it concerned people over 75 years old. The criteria, he said, are for the better and make it easier for those who want to have a domestic helper.
There is also, he adds, an amendment to the fees paid by an employer, while the issuance of a permit will be valid for between one and three years. Existing fees are also reduced. With regard to the employment of a domestic worker, the employer must meet certain income criteria which differ depending on the category he falls into. Persons with disabilities or vulnerable persons are also exempt from this condition.
Criteria are set for the employment of up to three domestic workers, as well as criteria for a male domestic worker. It is also specified that they must speak the Greek or English language. Mr. Tsangaridis adds that in order to be employed as a domestic helper, one must obtain an entry permit from the Immigration Department and then the appropriate procedures are made as today for his registration.
At the same time, the issuance of employer insurance and medical care continues. Finally, the employee must be registered in the Social Insurance as well as in the GHS. According to calculations, the net salary of a domestic worker is €309.
