Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 70 measures in Cyprus in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the digital transformation, the green transition, and companies undergoing restructuring. Most cases fall into the category Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future with 24 cases (34%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, and data are updated at regular intervals.
This overview was prepared by Loucas Antoniou (INEK) and Eurofound.
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
08 April 2020 |
Requisition of doctors and nurses
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
08 April 2020 |
Utilisation of graduate medical and nursing students
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
Other initiatives or policies |
31 January 2023 |
New incentives schemes for airline companies
Other |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
09 April 2020 |
Suspension of payment of credit facilities instalments
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
02 June 2023 |
Second call for the digital upgrading of businesses
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
09 July 2021 |
Sponsorship for businesses and self-employed that suspended operations
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
07 July 2021 |
State guarantees for credit institutions for loan granting to enterprises and self-employed
Access to finance |
09 April 2021 |
Supporting measures for cultural operators and artists
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
09 April 2021 |
State sponsorship scheme for certain categories of non-VAT registered businesses and self-employed persons
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
13 November 2023 |
Emergency state aid for damages in agriculture caused by fires
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
09 April 2021 |
State sponsorship scheme for businesses and self-employed people
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
05 January 2021 |
Scheme for the support of pig farming
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
04 January 2021 |
Support scheme for cooperatives and groups of producers in agriculture
Access to finance |
03 July 2020 |
New support package for the economy
Access to finance |
10 April 2020 |
Suspension of value added tax (VAT) payment
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
09 April 2020 |
Extension period for the payment of social insurances
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
05 January 2021 |
Emergency financial support for farmers during COVID-19 pandemic
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
13 November 2023 |
Support for rural areas from damages of fires
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
Other initiatives or policies |
04 January 2021 |
Tax reduction scheme of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
07 July 2021 |
Temporary support for farmers and SMEs affected by the pandemic
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
07 April 2020 Updated |
Special scheme for complete suspension of business
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
07 April 2020 Updated |
Special scheme for partial suspension of business
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
29 June 2020 Updated |
Special support schemes for workers and businesses
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 |
Temporary suspended employment in the Tourism/Catering industry
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
02 June 2023 Updated |
Recharging Station Sponsorship Scheme ‘Electrification by 1000’
Change of production/Innovation |
Company practices |
18 December 2020 |
Incredible, Pick-up Service in Nicosia Mall
Change of production/Innovation |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
08 April 2020 |
Teleworking and working from home in the public and broader public sector
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
10 April 2020 |
Telecare psychological services
Well-being of workers |
11 July 2022 |
Department of Labour Relations
Changes in work organisation |
Company practices |
10 December 2020 |
Protection measures in the Bank of Cyprus branch offices
Changes in work organisation |
17 December 2020 |
Lidl Cyprus health and safety protection protocol
Occupational health and safety |
17 December 2020 |
New technologies in Alpha-Mega Hypermarkets for health and safety
Occupational health and safety |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
10 April 2020 |
Protection of workers and the public
Occupational health and safety |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
06 April 2020 Updated |
Special paid leave for the caring of children
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
07 April 2020 Updated |
Special scheme for self-employed workers
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
07 April 2020 Updated |
Special sick leave allowance for vulnerable workers and for mandatory quarantine
Paid sick leave |
10 April 2020 |
Scheme for the remuneration of contract workers and self-employed in the afternoon programmes of the Ministry of Education
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
29 September 2020 Updated |
Special scheme for certain categories of self-employed
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
07 October 2021 |
Special support scheme for the unemployed in the hotel sector
Income support for unemployed |
23 June 2022 |
Fund for the protection of employees' rights in case of employer insolvency
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
Other initiatives or policies |
01 July 2020 |
Emergency support allowance for artists
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
09 May 2022 Updated |
Temporary protection visas for Ukrainian nationals
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
19 May 2022 |
Schooling of Ukrainian children in public schools
Access to childcare and education |
09 September 2022 Updated |
Tuition fee subsidy for children up to four years old
Access to childcare and education |
27 February 2024 |
Lump-sum support for households
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
Other initiatives or policies |
19 May 2022 Updated |
Temporary accommodation of refugees from Ukraine in hotels and organized apartments
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
09 September 2022 |
Financial support for families and persons with disabilities
Increasing income in general |
13 November 2023 Updated |
‘Photovoltaic for all’ scheme
Retrofitting buildings |
31 May 2023 Updated |
Zero VAT rate for essential goods
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
31 May 2023 Updated |
Second call to upgrade energy efficiency in houses
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
31 January 2023 Updated |
Grant scheme to promote electric mobility
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
31 January 2023 Updated |
Grant for energy upgrading for local authorities and public sector bodies
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
27 February 2024 |
Sponsorship scheme for energy upgrading and competitiveness of large enterprises
Financing the green transition |
09 September 2022 Updated |
Electricity support package for citizens and businesses
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
09 September 2022 Updated |
Grant scheme for photovoltaic charging systems for electric vehicles
Support for energy bills |
28 February 2024 Updated |
Sponsorship scheme to encourage the use of renewable energy and energy saving in households
Retrofitting buildings |
27 October 2020 |
Incentive scheme for the employment of former prisoners
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
27 October 2020 |
Incentives scheme for the employment of young NEET persons
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
26 October 2020 |
Subsidised employment: Incentives for companies to hire unemployed
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
30 May 2022 Updated |
Tax cut on fuel
Support for fuel expenses |
Company practices |
31 January 2023 |
Introduction of first full length-electric buses in Cyprus
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
Other initiatives or policies |
30 November 2020 |
Special vocational educational scheme for the unemployed in public and broader public sector and NGOs
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
30 November 2020 |
Special training scheme for employees in sectors affected by the pandemic
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
31 January 2023 |
Grant for the purchase of a new bicycle for the season 2022-2023
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
01 February 2023 |
‘Back to school’ lump-sum grant for children 4 to 18 years old
Increasing income in general |
08 September 2020 |
Special vocational and educational schemes and subsidy of wage costs
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
01 July 2020 Updated |
Incentives scheme for airline companies
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
27 February 2024 |
Training Programme on challenges in the construction or renovation of green buildings
Retrofitting buildings |
27 February 2024 |
Energy performance of buildings – Methodology and training on iSBEMcy software
Retrofitting buildings |
17 June 2020 |
Cyprus to pay holiday costs of infected tourists
Other |
30 January 2023
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Article12 September 2022
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Article12 September 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.
Article5 July 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.