ETEK delegation meets with Minister of Labour regarding construction sector labor shortages

A delegation from the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) met with the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Marinos Mousiouttas, to address critical issues within the construction industry. The primary concern discussed was the severe shortage of workers, technicians, foremen, and supervisors, particularly in specialized roles such as steelworkers and formworkers. ETEK noted that these shortages delay projects, increase construction costs, and hinder the development of affordable housing and energy-efficient building upgrades. To mitigate these problems, the Chamber urged for a faster, digitized process for processing labor requests from third-party countries. Additionally, they proposed mapping sectoral needs and enhancing the prestige of technical professions using professional qualification standards. The meeting also addressed health and safety protocols at construction sites, emphasizing that safety is a fundamental indicator of quality and professional management rather than a mere regulatory requirement. The discussion concluded by referencing the ISSA-C International Construction Conference, which took place on July 2–3, 2026.