The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) will bring together policymakers, employers and social partners in Nicosia on September 29, 2026, for a round-table discussion on one of the workplace’s most pressing but often overlooked challenges: how employees with care responsibilities can remain fully engaged in work while supporting a family member in need.
A Growing Workplace Priority
The discussion will focus on workers who care for an elderly relative, a person with a disability or another family member requiring assistance. As populations age and care needs rise, the pressure on employees to balance professional obligations with informal caregiving is becoming a significant issue for businesses, public authorities and society at large.
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For employers, the question is no longer whether care responsibilities affect the workplace, but how to respond in a way that supports retention, productivity and employee wellbeing.
What The Event Will Cover
Organised as part of Keve’s participation in the European CareDivide project, the round table will provide a forum for information-sharing, discussion and the exchange of practical experience on the realities facing working carers.
A key theme will be the need for a better balance between professional and personal life for employees who provide unpaid care. The event will also examine how employers, public authorities and other relevant organisations can better address the needs of this workforce segment.
Care Subsidy Scheme To Be Presented
Phanos Kouroufexis, senior officer at the Welfare Benefits Administration Service of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, will present the Care Services Subsidy Scheme during the session.
His remarks will outline the support available to people who require care, their families and informal carers. The presentation will be followed by an open discussion and question-and-answer session, allowing participants to raise practical concerns and learn more about available forms of support.
Policy Ideas And Workplace Solutions
The round table will also present policy proposals developed through the CareDivide project and explore concrete ways in which businesses, public administration and social partners can help create more accommodating workplaces for employees with care responsibilities.
That includes approaches that can reduce the strain on workers who must navigate deadlines, schedules and family care obligations simultaneously—an issue that can affect attendance, engagement and long-term labour market participation.
Who Should Attend
The event is aimed at employers, human resources professionals, policymakers, public authorities, social partners, non-governmental organisations and researchers, as well as anyone with an interest in employment, equality and care.
Participation is free. Keve said the session is intended to encourage the exchange of information and practical approaches that could contribute to a more supportive working environment.
Event Details
The discussion will be held in Greek on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Keve building in Nicosia.
Interested participants can register through this registration link until September 25, 2026.
Keve is part of the consortium behind the CareDivide project, which is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme. The initiative is being implemented in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Romania and Spain.
The broader significance is clear: workers who provide informal care are increasingly central to the conversation about labour force participation, workplace flexibility and social support. As care demands grow, the ability to combine employment with caregiving will remain a practical test for both employers and policymakers.
