Background information

The measure aims to support the human resource of businesses affected by the pandemic in order to improve and/or acquire new skills and knowledge. The scheme is implemented by the Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus and it is based on the law provisions (Law 1999-2007, article 21) for the functioning of the Authority and the EU regulation (2013, articles 107 & 108, de minimis aid) EU1407/2013.

Content of measure

Within the frame of the scheme, businesses are able to organise intra-corporate training sessions in the following five thematic domains:

1. Management of crises and development of business continuity,
2. Digital skills and knowledge,
3. Health and safety in the workplace, risk assessment and development of action plans,
4. Basic principles of food hygiene and individual hygiene, and
5. Environmental issues.

The basic provisions for participation are:

• Participating businesses are registered in the Social Insurance registry employing up to 100 employees.
• 25% decrease in turnover of the business, (in comparison to the last year turnover of the business).
• The business has not dismissed any employee since March 2020,
• The business is committed not to dismiss or reduce salaries for the implementation period of the scheme.
• The business is not participating simultaneously in other schemes of the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance.

Participating businesses receive €1,000 for the cost of the identification of the business training needs, the development of the training plan and all other expenditures for the organization of the training. Additionally, for each training programme, participating businesses receive €12 per hour of training for each participant.

The total amount available for the scheme is €14 million.

Use of measure

Currently, there are no other information on the estimate number of businesses eligible to receive the payment.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	SMEs	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The Scheme and its related provisions, terms and eligibility criteria has been designed by the Human Resource Development Authority (HRDA) in coordination with the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurances. Social partners have not been invited into a consultation process for the definition of the scheme.

Views and reactions

Social partners are in favour of measures that support business continuity through training and the further development of skills of employees. They appear supportive to the initiative and no reactions or disagreements on the provisions of the scheme have been recorded to this moment.

Sources

• 02 November 2020: Ειδικό σχέδιο κατάρτισης εργοδοτουμένων σε ορισμένους τομείς που έχουν επηρεαστεί από την πανδημία