Gender Equality in Employment and Vacational Training Committee


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Message by the Chair of the Committee

Dear visitor,

The promotion and achievement of gender equality proves to be a difficult task, despite the efforts made both in Cyprus and internationally. The progress being made is slow and this calls for more effort to close the gender gap that dominates almost all sectors.
The Committee for Gender Equality in Employment and Vocational Education (EIF), was established and operates based on Articles 22 and 23 of the Equal Treatment Between Men and Women in Employment and Vocational Training Law, 2002 (L. 205(I)2002).
The Committee consists of:
(a) Chairman appointed by the Minister
(b) Representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance
(c) Representative of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order
(d) Representative of the Department of Public Administration and Personnel
(e) A representative from each employer organization that is a member of the Labor Advisory Body;
(f) A representative from each labor organization that is a member of the Labor Advisory Body.

This Law aims at the implementation of the principle of equal treatment between men and women as regards access to vocational orientation, education and training and the terms and conditions for their provision, the access to employment and independent professions, the terms and conditions of employment, including promotion, the terms and conditions of dismissal, as well as the membership and involvement in organisations of workers or employers.

The Committee's role is advisory to the Minister of Labor and Social Insurance, while at the same time it deals with issues that fall within the purposes and scope of the above Law. In particular, it advises the respective Minister regarding the definition or revision of national policy and legislation in the matters related to its field of competence, monitors the implementation of the relevant Law by the competent Service of the Ministry, ex officio submits complaints or accepts complaints from allegations of gender discrimination which are forwarded to the Chief Inspector for appropriate handling, etc.

The Committee for Gender Equality in Employment and Vocational Education, within the scope of its responsibilities, focuses its actions on informing employers and employees regarding gender equality legislation in employment and especially in the protection of maternity and harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace.
Through the Committee's website we offer another step for citizens to report to the Commission when they feel that actions and actions are against the law, causing gender discrimination and inequalities.
In this new updated website, the visitor can be informed about the latest developments regarding the Committee and its work (announcements, publications, actions, etc.) and the work of previous years through our Annual Reports. It can also be informed about the various events such as Forums, training Seminars, meetings and contacts of the Commission for Gender Equality.

At the same time, he/she can study the provisions of Law 205(I)2002 as well as the Regulatory Administrative Acts K.D.P. 176/2009 concerning the Regulations which regulate the provision of independent legal assistance to victims of discrimination which is a very important element that distinguishes the Commission and which is provided in the form of advice, and/or legal advice, and/or representation of victims in legal proceedings before administrative bodies and/or independent authorities. In addition to all the other topics you can study (National Action Plan, inclusion of the Gender dimension in Public Policies, Model Code on Sexual Harassment for employers, etc.) there is the Contact Form for any question or issue you wish to bring to the attention of the Committee and the 'Complaint Submission Form' which is a platform for victims of discrimination to communicate directly with the Committee in order to receive appropriate advice regarding the investigation of their complaint.

We hope that the website will become a great source of information both for the public, employees and non-employees, students and apprentices, employers and labor organizations, but also a tool for creative collaboration of all the aforementioned as well as organizations that promote gender equality.

Gender equality is a top issue that concerns the entire society and we have an obligation to act proactively on the one hand to prevent unwanted actions and behaviors and on the other hand to offer solutions to the complaints brought before us with quick and flexible handling. The promotion and achievement of gender equality is proving to be a difficult undertaking, despite the efforts made both in Cyprus and internationally. The progress made is such that it requires greater effort, so that the deficit of gender inequalities that prevails in almost all sectors is be eliminated.


Louiza Christodoulidou- Zannetou