Bridging Labour Gaps with Inclusion: A Conversation on Opportunities for Asylum Seekers in Cyprus

“There are labour shortages in fields just like the IT field, and there are asylum seekers and migrants with such skills and qualifications, why shouldn’t we find a way to hire them?”

This was one of the quotes that stood out to us during our fruitful meeting with Mr. Polyvios K. Polyviou, Senior Officer for Industrial Relations & Social Policy at the Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB).

We discussed with Mr. Polyviou the labour shortages across various sectors in Cyprus, the feedback received from employers on this growing gap, and the impact of the current employment restrictions on asylum seekers, including the nine-month waiting period and the very limited list of permitted sectors. These policies continue to have significant social and economic consequences not only for asylum seekers but also for key labor sectors and the broader Cypriot economy.

Mr. Polyviou also shared his hope for the expansion of accessible sectors, particularly in ways that are inclusive of asylum-seeking women, and for a re-evaluation of the 9-month restriction period, with the goal of creating a more equitable and responsive labor market framework.

We sincerely thank Mr. Polyviou for his invaluable time and insights, and we are grateful for OEB’s support in our FAIR initiative, which advocates for fair and just labor market inclusion for asylum seekers in Cyprus.

#Diversity #Equity #Inclusion