The Paphos Leisure Centre Owners Association (SIKAP) has secured significant labour agreements to increase the number of third-country nationals working in the hospitality sector, the organisation’s president and Paphos Deputy Mayor Angelos Onisiforou said.
The association has successfully negotiated with the Ministry of Labour to increase the hiring quota for non-EU workers, with approval times expected to be reduced to 15 days.
The quota for third-country nationals in each business is set to rise from the current 50% to between 70% and 80% compared to EU workers, Onisiforou said.
Additional reforms include expanded working rights for international students during winter months and the ability to replace departed political refugees with workers from non-EU countries.
The Paphos municipality has also approved extending entertainment and liquor licence renewals from annual to three-year periods, pending parliamentary approval.
