OAED: Support for unemployed women victims of gender and domestic violence

The modification of employment and entrepreneurship programmes, with a view to supporting unemployed women victims gender and domestic violence, proceeded the administration of the Labour Employment Agency (OAED), in the framework of the Agency's cooperation with the General Secretariat for Family Policy and Gender Equality.

Specifically, the Board of the OAED decided to increased rating of female victims of gender and domestic violence by 60% the improved second chance business opportunity programme for unemployed people who have stopped their business activity and want to start a new business and re-enter the labour market, while at least 40% of the 3,000 posts will be filled by unemployed women.

It was also decided to include unemployed women victims of gender and domestic violence, for the first time, in the employment programme for vulnerable social groups, which subsidises for 12-24 months the 90% of the total costs (wage and non-wage), up to EUR 800 per month for a full-time position and EUR 400 for a part-time position, for the recruitment of unemployed persons from private and public enterprises, bodies and organisations engaged in economic activity, as well as from enterprises of municipalities and regions.

«OAED actively supports unemployed women victims of gender and domestic violence in their efforts to reintegrate and regain their deserved position in the labour market. Through its cooperation with the General Secretariat for Family Policy and Gender Equality, the Agency will continue to design actions and initiatives to promote their employment and eliminating the gender gap in work, which is a major challenge for society and the economy,» said the OAED governor, Spyros Protohpsaltis.

For her part, the Minister for Family Policy and Gender Equality, Maria Syregela, he said: «We warmly thank the governor of the OAED, Spyros Protopsaltis, for the immediate response to the request of the GGOPIF. With the help of the OAED, we are creating the conditions for the empowerment of these women to take control of their lives back into their own hands.».