The package launched by the government to support employees and businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic has averted a drastic rise in unemployment, Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance Zeta Emilianidou has said.

“Our strategic goal at this stage is to tackle the consequences of the pandemic and that is why we are supporting employment and the aim is to avert a rise in unemployment,” she said presenting the Ministry’s budget for 2021 before the parliamentary committee of Finance and Budgetary Affairs.
 
As she said, so far €450 million have been disbursed to support the income of employees and an additional €100 million has been spent in support of operational costs for small and medium sized businesses. This expenditure is covered by funding from the EU’s SURE fund from which Cyprus was allocated €479 million. The first tranche of €250 million has been disbursed while the remaining €229 million is expected to be disbursed in early 2021.
 
She also recalled that the Council of Ministers has approved additional measures of a value of €130 - €150 million which will support employees that were affected by the local lockdown measures implemented in Limassol and Pafos districts until 2021.
 
According to Emilianidou, the support schemes which began with the outbreak of the pandemic in early March have supported the income of more than 190,000 employees and over or 23,000 self employed persons, while the unemployment allowance was extended beyond six months.
 
“All these schemes have assisted significantly so that we would not have a drastic rise in unemployment,” Emilianidou said.
 
Responding to a question, Emilianidou said unemployment is expected to rise to 8% due to the pandemic but added everything is contingent on how the pandemic is progressing and whether there will be a third wave. “That’s why no forecasts can be made because the data are fluid,” she said.
 
The Ministry’s budget for 2021 provides for €1.41 billion, up by 12% compared to 2020, whereas including welfare expenditure of the Social Insurance Fund’s various schemes the Ministry’s total expenditure rises to €3,1 billion.
 
Furthermore, Emilianiou said the Ministry will launch a digital application and payment of unemployment and other allowances provided by the Social Insurance Fund.

Due to the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown measures, the Ministry was forced to launch a digital platform for social insurance allowances in a period of just one month.
 
“With the experiences acquired in March we launched changes particularly in the Social Insurance system,” she said, adding that until the end of December all tellers in the Social Insurance District offices will be closed and applications as well as payments will be made online.
 
Furthermore, the Minister said the government had to put the implementation of a minimum wage in Cyprus on hold due to the pandemic.
 
“You cannot implement a minimum wage when unemployment is rising,” Emilianidou said, adding that the government has concluded the study made with the assistance of the International Labour Organisation. She recalled that the government’s decision was to implement the reform in conditions of full employment.
 
Moreover, responding to a question, Emilianidou said Cyprus' pension system has closed its life cycle.
 
“I agree Cyprus’ pension system and Social Insurance legislation needs restructuring,” she said.
 
She said the Ministry has received the approval of the Attorney-General of the Republic so that the Ministry can draft new legislation with the assistance of legal counsellors.