For both trade unions and employer organizations, discussion on the process of licensing third-country workers takes precedence for different reasons within the framework of social dialogue.
However, this specific issue will be just one of the many discussed next Monday at the scheduled meeting of the Labour Advisory Board (LAB).
According to information from Phileleftheros, the agenda presented to LAB members yesterday includes several other issues for discussion, for which Minister of Labor Yiannis Panagiotou seeks resolutions in the immediate future.
It is not ruled out, of course, that there may not be enough time for discussing all matters, as has happened in the past.
Information from Phileleftheros indicates that LAB’s agenda includes the draft law already submitted by the Ministry of Labor to social partners for increasing maternity leave and allowance for the first child from 18 weeks currently to 22 weeks, aiming for its approval by the Cabinet and subsequently by the Parliament, as promised by President Christodoulides during his electoral campaign.
Additionally, the issue highlighted by Phileleftheros regarding teleworking and the pending matter concerning the cost borne by companies implementing this form of employment, the proposal made by the Minister of Labor for a conditional and targeted relief of the 12% contribution reduction for early retirement, legislation to implement the Ministry of Labor’s action plan for 2024, and, of course, labor market needs are also on the agenda.
Regarding the issue of labor market staffing, Phileleftheros reports the Minister’s intention to provide social partners with data supportive of the discussions held recently, prompted by the significant demand communicated by various professional sectors, and also by concerns from the trade union movement regarding the existing employment strategy for third-country nationals, which, as claimed by trade unions – warning of measures – is opaque and undermines collective agreements.
In this context, it is estimated that there will be discussion on the procedures for renewing collective agreements in the construction and hotel industries, while LAB’s agenda also includes the revision of the decree related to the employment of foreign students in our country.
Concerning the issue of proportional adjustment for early retirement, the conclusions of the dialogue triggered by the reservations of trade unions on the Minister’s proposal are expected to be examined, without excluding the possibility of referring the matter to the Cabinet for final decisions. Regarding the Ministry of Labor’s action plan, LAB will examine specific legislation to pave the way, as mentioned before, for the electronic registration of all workers through the “Ergani 2” system.
