Unaccompanied minor asylum seekers represent the most vulnerable segment of immigration.
Increased migration flows in recent years have also led to increased flows of unaccompanied minors, and the efforts of the Ministry of Social Welfare ultimately focus on hosting 1,200 unaccompanied minors, ensuring safe living conditions, as well as their integration and inclusion in society.
To address the accommodation needs of unaccompanied minors, the government decided in 2022 to place them in hotel units or other accommodations.
On 15/3/2023, the Ministerial Council approved the re-leasing of three hotel units where approximately 300 children are hosted from 1/4/2023 to 30/9/2023, as well as the leasing of hotel units or other tourist accommodations for the planned hosting of 500 unaccompanied minors until 31/12/2023, with the possibility of extension until 30/6/2024.
With the same decision, the implementation of the process of purchasing services from professionals with the assignment of duties of guardians, caregivers, coordinators, and surveillance services was renewed.
After consultation between the Ministries of Tourism and Social Welfare, from 1/3/2024, existing contracts with the three tourist accommodations hosting minors will be transferred, provided that the relevant approval is obtained from the House of Representatives for the transfer of the respective credits, from the Ministry of Tourism to the Social Welfare Services (SWS), whose Director acts, according to the Refugee Law, as the guardian of unaccompanied minors.
Since so far it has not been possible to find alternative housing solutions despite the efforts of the SWS to secure sufficient hosting places (state institutions, tender announcement for the creation of a hosting center, cooperation with NGOs), there is a need to extend their hosting policy in hotels or other tourist accommodations until the discovery of definitive solutions and alternative rehabilitation frameworks that meet the hosting needs of unaccompanied minors.
By decision of the Ministerial Council, the extension of the hosting policy for unaccompanied minors in hotel or other tourist accommodations was approved until 30/6/2026 or until the discovery of alternative solutions that meet the hosting needs, whichever is earlier.
Furthermore, the announcement of competitions for the provision of hosting services and services by professionals with the assignment of duties of guardians, caregivers, coordinators, and surveillance services was approved.
The SWS, due to the imminent expiration of existing contracts and the difficulty in finding new accommodations, is launching three competitions.
Specifically, the first competition concerns the creation of a list for the provision of temporary hosting services in hotels and organized apartments in Cyprus for a total of 400 unaccompanied minors protection places (280 existing and an additional 120 new places) for a period of 12 months with the right of extension for two additional periods of 12 months each. The estimated value is calculated at €5,200,000 per year.
The second competition concerns the creation of a list of caregivers and guardians (24 professionals with the assignment of duties as guardian/coordinator and 80 caregivers) for staffing the above accommodations, and the duration of the agreement with the contractors will be 12 months with the right of renewal for two additional periods of 12 months each.
The estimated value is calculated at €2,000,000 per year.
The third competition concerns the 24-hour surveillance of the internal spaces of hotels/organized apartments by a private security company and will have a duration of 12 months with the right of renewal for two additional periods of 12 months each.
The estimated value is calculated at €543,600 per year.
The expenditure for the implementation of the three competitions will be covered by available credits in the budget of the Ministry of Social Welfare for 2024, which also includes credits of €2.7 million to be transferred from the Ministry of Tourism, while the credits required for the years 2025 and beyond will be included in the proposals of the Ministry of Social Welfare during the preparation of the Budget.
It should be noted that with the decision of the Ministerial Council, the Minister of Justice and Public Order was authorised to, in consultation with the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, give instructions to the Chief of Police to ensure the appropriate policing of the external areas of hotels and organised apartments where unaccompanied minors are hosted, deemed necessary.
Hosting 400 individuals at a cost of €15.6 million for three years
For the creation of a list for providing temporary hosting services in hotels and organised apartments in Cyprus for unaccompanied minor applicants for international protection, it is expected that €15,600,000 will be spent, excluding VAT.
The above-estimated value includes the right to extend the contract for two periods of 12 months each.
For calculation purposes, the amount of €40 per person per day was estimated, excluding VAT, for 400 individuals.
It is emphasised that the contracting authority is not obligated to award a contract to a contractor whose hotel and/or organised apartment is not ranked first on the list based on the offered price.
In case the needs of the SWS are not met by the participation of the contractors in the agreement, the SWS may invite new interested economic entities to supplement the list through relevant publication on its website throughout the duration of the agreement.
Inclusion in the list for the award of services will be carried out by decision of the competent authority.
The contractor will provide hosting to unaccompanied minors, which will include: three meals a day as well as a mid-morning and afternoon snack, and the provision of Cypriot non-alcoholic beverages (e.g. juices) during the three meals. Additionally, drinking water should be continuously available.
No other drinks ordered will be covered unless specific instructions/approvals are given by the contracting authority.
Rooms should be cleaned, and bed linen (sheets, pillowcases, covers, blankets) and bathroom and face towels changed twice a week.
Rooms will have adequate quantities of soap, shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, water, paper towels, and waste bags.
