Filenews 12 May 2023 - by Adamos Adamou
A major effort of coordination and joint actions by various ministries and deputy ministries has been underway lately, in view of the expiration of contracts with various hotels hosting Ukrainian refugees.
The relevant contracts are maintained by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism with units located mainly in the free area of Famagusta and, in view of their expiration at the end of the month, there is intense movement in order for the approximately two thousand refugees from Ukraine hosted in them to be integrated into society, but also into the labour market, where possible and to the extent possible. no problems.
In this context, a workshop with the participation of employers has already been organized, as a result of which many Ukrainians have already found work. In addition, the State has enlisted officers of the Ministry of Labour and the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare to inform all those affected in relation to the rights they have, but also about the financial incentives that exist for the smooth transition of all hosted refugees from Ukraine to Cypriot everyday life and society.
According to "F's" information, officials of the Ministry of Labor and the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare have long carried out relevant information campaigns in hotels in view of the imminent termination of their stay in them, giving relevant information on financial incentives offered to them for the future, but also on other issues.
These incentives include, among other things, the provision of one-off assistance to those who have not yet received it, as well as financial assistance for rent subsidies. The guests were also sent relevant letters, in their own language, while all of them were asked and completed, with the assistance of the Ukrainian embassy, questionnaires about their living situation in Cyprus, in order for social services to have an insight into the needs of each one.
The activation of the Ukrainian refugee population is also assisted, as we mentioned, by the one-off financial support offered by Cyprus to all Ukrainian refugees, amounting to €340 for each person, with each family entitled to an additional €170 assistance for the spouse and for each child over 14 years old and an additional €100 for each child under 14 years old. The incentives, for which, as already mentioned, those directly concerned have been informed, include a rent subsidy scheme, which is the same as that offered to all recipients of the Guaranteed Minimum Income, as well as a monthly assistance of €102 for the care of minor children, in order to facilitate their integration into the labour market.
With the temporary protection status offered to Ukrainians, they can work without many bureaucratic procedures and, as we wrote again, a workshop was recently held on the initiative of the Deputy Prime Minister. Tourism, for pairing employers with Ukrainian refugees. The workshop was attended by around 40 employers, as well as 250 Ukrainian refugees, and some recruitments have been made.
What are other countries doing with refugees?
In general, however, Cyprus so far seems to apply a fairly decent policy of hosting Ukrainian refugees, compared to other countries. It was also one of the few countries hosting Ukrainian refugees in hotels. According to reports, countries such as Germany, Greece, Slovenia and even Sweden hosted Ukrainian refugees in first reception migrant accommodation centres, while other countries even in schools. Canada also offers hotel accommodation, but only for two weeks, and the Czech Republic, for a period of three months, compared to the six months offered in Cyprus. Also, our country is one of the few that at European level offer rent subsidy schemes to refugees caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The others are Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Austria. However, there are countries such as Italy, Latvia and the Czech Republic that subsidize home hosting of refugees.
Employers should also run
The increased needs for human resources in the economy are expected to support efforts to integrate Ukrainians into the labour market. Those who are of course not elderly and can work. In view of this and as the needs, especially in the hospitality sector, continue, it is almost certain that there will be new initiatives, such as the recent one of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in Ayia Napa for the employment of Ukrainian refugees. Which was supported by the employers' organizations CCCI and OEB. Which should, if not yet requested, be further involved in the State's effort, as this will serve the needs of their members.
