1. Integration of Female Migrant Domestic Workers: Strategies for Employment and Civic Participation Funded: ΙΝΤΙ Preparatory Actions, 2005 European Commission

2. METHODOLOGY A.Semi-structured qualitative interviews  government bodies  NGOs  trade unions  others (e.g. President of Employers of Domestic Workers’ Association, MPs)

3. B.Data from:  Aliens and Immigration Law (1972 - 2007)  government bodies’ reports e.g. Labour Dept, Social Securities Dept  reports from independent bodies e.g. Cyprus Commissioner for Administration, NGOs

4. C.Bibliography  studies on migration and ethnic minorities in Cyprus  studies on FMDW (severely restricted in number)

5. GENERAL FRAMEWORK  migration policy – “guest workers’ system”  22,500 FMDW: - 2.57% of total population - 22.93% of migrant population  origin: countries of Southeast Asia (Sri-Lanka, Philippines

6.  strongly gender segregated labour market – FMDW and perpetuation of stereotypes and gender based discrimination  reasons for increasing need for FMDW: - more and more Cypriot women enter the labour market - inadequacy of the state welfare system for the elderly, children and persons with special needs - FMDW and “symbolic capital”  place of residence of FMDW

7. FINDINGS - EMPLOYMENT 1.no state policy for the integration of migrants in general ► no state policy for the integration of FMDW 2.residence/work permit linked to a specific employment sector and a specific employer (up to 4 years) ► potential of dependency relationship 3.place of residence = place of work ► potential of dependency relationship 4.vague employment terms as to: work schedule / type of work

8. 5.no state mechanism for controlling employment/residence conditions («private sphere» asylum) 6.employment contract compiled by Civil Registry and Migration Dept and not by Labour Dept 7.discrepancies between Greek and English versions of employment contract ► Greek version more restrictive ► potential violation of basic human rights – racial/ethnic discrimination 8.no gender mainstreaming in employment contract and relevant legislation

9. 9.no reference to Collective Agreements in contrast with standard employment contract for all migrants 9.current wages at the level determined in1990 (CYP 150) 10.social insurance contributions – no bilateral agreements with countries of origin of FMDW 11.sick leave and employer’s right of dismissal

10. 13.no provision for compensation in the case of overtime working

11. FINDINGS – CIVIC PARTICIPATION 1.no state policy for the integration of migrants in general ► no state policy for the integration of FMDW 2.prohibition of participation in any action or activity during the DW stay in Cyprus – clause 2(h) 3.place of residence = place of work 4.vague time schedule of work ►FMDW “on call” ► confinement to the employer’s place of residence

12. 5.employer – employee relationship = ownership relationship? 6.Employers’ Association and definition of «civic participation» 7.“integration”: two way process but are migrants willing to participate? ► racist predispositions amongst Cypriots?

13. CONCLUSIONS – INTEGRATION STRATEGIES  no provisions for the integration of migrants in relevant legislation  no state policy for integration in practice  policy-makers and “assimilation”  participation of migrants in the development and implementation of integration strategies – necessary?

14.  FMDW are the most vulnerable group amongst migrants in Cyprus ► special integration measures

15. CONCLUSIONS – BEST PRACTICES  no state ‘best practices’  weak civic society in Cyprus  limited number of NGOs  their actions are sporadic and uncoordinated

16.  development of integration strategies: not a priority for policy makers  social status of Cypriot women and their employment relationship with FMDW