Integration of Female Migrant Domestic Workers:

1
Integration of Female Migrant Domestic
Workers

• Strategies for Employment and Civic Participation
• Funded ???? Preparatory Actions, 2005
• European Commission

2
METHODOLOGY

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

3

• 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

• 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

• no state policy for the integration of migrants
  in general ? no state policy for the integration
  of FMDW
• residence/work permit linked to a specific
  employment sector and a specific employer (up to
  4 years) ? potential of dependency relationship
• place of residence place of work ?
• potential of dependency relationship
• vague employment terms as to work schedule /
  type of work

8

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

9

• no reference to Collective Agreements in contrast
  with standard employment contract for all
  migrants
• current wages at the level determined in1990 (CYP
  150)
• social insurance contributions no bilateral
  agreements with countries of origin of FMDW
• sick leave and employers right of dismissal

10

• no provision for compensation in the case of
  overtime working

11
FINDINGS CIVIC PARTICIPATION

• no state policy for the integration of migrants
  in general ? no state policy for the integration
  of FMDW
• prohibition of participation in any action or
  activity during the DW stay in Cyprus clause
  2(h)
• place of residence place of work
• vague time schedule of work ?FMDW on call ?
  confinement to the employers place of residence

12

• employer employee relationship ownership
  relationship?
• Employers Association and definition of civic
  participation
• 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