1. CYPRUS EXPERIENCES IN ORGANIZING MIGRANT WORKERS

2. DEOK Profile  DEOK was founded on the 4 th of February 1962.  After the Turkish invasion in 1974 DEOK has been underactive.  Since 1982 has been reactive. Today, DEOK represents more than 10% of employees who make up the membership of the three national trade union confederations in Cyprus.

3. What is the overall situation for migrant workers in Cyprus  Today's, in Cyprus we employee a big amount of migrant workers (mainly from Romania, Bulgaria and Poland) according with available employee positions.  This situation is a big problem for Cyprus because the migrant workers treated as cheap labor resource so the jobs for Cypriot employees are reduced dramatically.  The unemployment for August 2011 in Cyprus was 7,5% (approximately 30,000 people) very high percentage for the Cyprus data

4. How easy is it for a migrant worker to join? What obstacles exist?  In organized workplaces is easy to become a migrant worker member  Unfortunately there are obstacles there that are lacking of organization

5. Existing system or other method to provide information to mobile/migrant workers  No specific mechanism/system to provide information about Cyprus at DEOK.  Publications were distributed at workplaces in various languages to inform foreign and European Union nationals working in Cyprus.  They were mainly distributed to members of the particular trade and unfortunately not in areas where foreigners would obtain them and become informed in advance (for example, at airports).  These publications included information and services the organisation provides as well as other competent agencies in Cyprus whose purview is to protect such individuals.

6. How are migrant workers interests represented in DEOK  When our members, Cypriot and migrant, inform us about any problems we arrange meetings with the personnel manager or, hotel manager in my case, and trying to solve the problems

7. International affiliation  DEOK was a member of the World Confederation of Labour (WCL) from 1982 to 2006 – now ITUC (DEOK is one of the founding members of the ITUC).  Following efforts over many years (1982-2007), DEOK managed to become a full member of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

8. Tripartite and consultative bodies (DEOK participation) Regarding the movement of workers in the EU  DEOK takes part in ETUC committees related to issues of worker movement within European countries.  In addition, the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance have set up several advisory tripartite committees that discuss issues relevant to mobile/migrant workers working in Cyprus.

9. Success story of organizing migrant workers  At 3 different hotels I have managed to join the migrant workers in the Collective Industry Agreement in order to enjoy the same rights as other employees. (increase their salaries nearly 20%)

10. THANKS!!!