Cyprus will raise minimum wages for 19 hotel sector jobs effective from January 2025, President Nikos Christodoulides announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace, Christodoulides said unemployment had fallen to 5%, its lowest level in 15 years, while wages in the hospitality sector had risen more than 10% over the past two years.
The government will also launch initiatives to attract Cypriot professionals working abroad, with Christodoulides scheduled to meet expatriate workers in London on May 21.
“We will attempt – and I believe we will succeed – to turn brain drain into brain gain by bringing back Cypriot professionals”, Christodoulides said.
The initiative involves cooperation with local and foreign businesses seeking staff, as the country works to strengthen its workforce.
The president also announced plans for a new framework to regulate the employment of foreign workers, addressing labour market needs.
In a separate development, the government will modernise the Pan-Cyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council for the first time in 19 years, aiming to make it more flexible and effective.
“Volunteerism plays a crucial role in social welfare, and we want civil society to participate in decision-making and addressing challenges”, the president said.
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