The Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance will have “a substantive and special role to play during Cyprus` EU presidency, taking into consideration that one of our horizontal priorities is to enhance and strengthen the social dimension of Europe,“ Minister of Labour Soteroulla Charalambous said on Tuesday.

Speaking after a meeting with a delegation from AKEL, Charalambous said the priorities would be to combat child poverty through the general aim of combating poverty.

She furthermore said that her Ministry would focus on “the role and involvement of the social partners in the implementation of various policies to enhance employment, taking into consideration Cyprus` positive experience from the social dialogue, the involvement of the social partners in setting terms of employment, through a system of collective agreements and labour relations.“