In agreement not to accept any deviation for workers from third countries from the criteria provided by the legislation and the registration in the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Cyprus and from a directive of the European Parliament regarding the recognition of professional qualifications in the European Union, the Pancypriot concluded Association of Nurses and Midwives (PASYNM) and the SEK (O.I.Y.K. – SEK) and PEO (SEVETTYK PEO) unions at their recent meeting.
In a joint announcement PASYNM, SEC and PEO state that during the meeting there was an exchange of views on issues that concern nursing and midwifery science in Cyprus and how to deal with the challenges in the health field, such as working conditions, salaries and professional advancement prospects of Nurses and Midwives.
They add that the meeting also discussed important issues concerning the criteria for the possible employment of workers from third countries, the training and education of nurses and midwives to be able to cope with the increasing demands and challenges of the sector, the quality of care, as well as the addressing the primary Health needs of the population.
They also state that it was agreed that "constructive cooperation between all involved bodies in the health field is essential for finding solutions and improvements to possible problems, but also for the required improvement of health service provision and for ensuring a high level of care for fellow human beings us".
They add that "the exchange of views on major issues that concern the health sector is vital for its continuous improvement and evolution".
With regard to shortages of nursing and midwifery potential observed in our country and the opinions heard regarding the admission of nursing and midwifery personnel from third countries, according to the PASYNM, SEK and PEO announcement, it was agreed that no deviation should be accepted for workers from third countries from the criteria provided by the legislation and registration with the Cyprus Nursing and Midwifery Council, as well as no derogation from directive 2005/36/EE, which was revised by directive 2013/55/EU of the European Parliament, regarding the recognition of professional qualifications in the European Union.
It is also reported that it was agreed that the state "take appropriate measures to protect the professions of nursing and midwifery and to invest in them, with the aim of improving the Health System of our country, based on the maximum possible utilization of special qualifications and skills of professional nurses and midwives".
It is added that "the state should develop, implement and finance a national plan and strategies for the attraction, recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives to address the shortages observed over time, in our country and especially after the implementation of the National Plan Health".
PASYNM and the unions, SEK and PEO, say they also agreed that the state "invest in high-quality, accredited nursing and midwifery education programs to prepare more new nurses and midwives, but also to promote career development for existing ones who are currently working in our country".
"Any discussion of nursing or midwifery issues and/or the necessity for the possible admission of nursing and midwifery personnel from third countries or other issues in the decision-making centers must include PASYNM, other nursing bodies as well as all trade unions representing nursing and midwifery potential in the country's health sector in both the public and private sectors," they add.
They also state, among other things, that in the event that the need for the admission of personnel from other countries is proven and/or the admission of nursing and midwifery workforce to our country from third countries becomes necessary, the Republic of Cyprus should ensure in every way that the basic level of education is consistent with what exists today in our country and which is foreseen by the European directives as well as the international conventions, which our country has accepted and co-signed.
In the event that it becomes necessary to admit nursing and nursing workforce to our country from third countries, according to the announcement of the PASYNM and the SEK and PEO, "a necessary condition for the granting of employment permits should be that the hospital has a signed and renewed collective labor contract after 2023, signed by institutional trade unions (SEK and PEO), and the terms of the contract to apply in their entirety to all workers, including workers from third countries".
PASYNM, SEK and PEO also request the establishment of a committee to evaluate the applications for the employment of nurses from third countries, in which representatives of the Ministries of Health and Labor and the newly established Deputy Ministry of Immigration, as well as representatives of employers' organizations and the unions of SEK and PEO, participate, which are the only unions that represent nurses working in private hospitals and have signed collective agreements.
They add that a representative of the Pancypriot Association of Nurses and Midwives must also participate in the committee.
Finally, PASYNM, SEK and PEO request to increase the control of the competent department of the Ministry of Health, in order to observe the prescribed staffing numbers of the hospitals with nursing staff per shift, with special emphasis on evening and afternoon shifts and on weekends.
Source: KYPE