Employment

Below you may find several services provided by the Republic of Cyprus. Click on each one to find out more.

BENEFICIARIES OF INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION STATUS

Under the amendment to Article 19 of the Cyprus Refugee Law, individuals granted Subsidiary Protection have immediate access to employment upon the date they are granted the aforesaid status. They have the same Employment rights as Cypriot citizens, provided they maintain their status. There are no limitations concerning the sectors or professions in which they can work. They are free to pursue opportunities in any field they are qualified for. they are not required to obtain approval from the Department of Labor to be employed.

Applicants

Applicants access to the job market is determined by decision of the Minister of Labor and Social Insurance, in agreement with the Deputy Minister of Immigration and International Protection.

Asylum Seekers

Asylum Seekers have access to the labour market nine (9) months following the date of the submission of their application for international protection, in specific sectors and occupations according to the relevant Decree of the Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance.

In Cyprus, the recruitment of asylum seekers is subject to specific procedures and restrictions:

Authorization to Employ Foreigners: Employers must have authorization to employ non-Cypriot nationals, including asylum seekers (Department of Labour/Employment of workers from third countries). The approval process for employing third-country nationals is built on the principle of ensuring that local and European labor markets cannot meet the specific staffing needs of the employer. To obtain this approval, the following conditions and steps are mandatory:

Non-Availability of Local/European Labor: Employers must demonstrate that the required role cannot be filled by Cypriot nationals or other EU citizens. This ensures priority is given to the local and EU workforce.
Notification of the Public Employment Service: Employers are required to notify the Public Employment Service (PES) by completing and submitting a Vacancy Notification Form, detailing their employment needs.
Advertising the Job Vacancy: Employers must also publish the job vacancy in a daily newspaper to maximize visibility within the local and European labor markets.

The relevant forms for different categories can be found at: https://www.gov.cy/service/apascholisi-allodapon/

Submission of Required Forms: The employer must complete and submit a form to the district Labor Office, indicating the intent to employ an asylum seeker.
Contract and Social Insurance Registration: Once approval is obtained, the employer and asylum seeker must sign a contract of employment. The employee must also be registered with the Social Insurance system, ensuring compliance with labour laws.
Validity of Approval: Employment authorization is valid only while the individual retains the status of an applicant for international protection, as per the Refugee Law of 2000 (L.6(I)/2000), which is subject to amendments.
Restrictions for Agricultural/Livestock Workers: Third country nationals who previously held a work permit in agriculture or livestock are restricted to employment with the same employer. A change in employer is only permissible if both parties sign a release document, and even then, the individual can only take up work within the same field and profession.

The employment of the asylum seekers is allowed in the following sectors of economic activity:

Beneficiaries of Subsidiary Protection

Refugees

Under Section 21B of the Cyprus Refugee Law individuals recognized as refugees are entitled to equal treatment as the citizens of the Republic in terms of wage-earning employment. In other words, refugees have the same Employment rights as Cypriot citizens, hence there are not subject to any restriction regarding the fields of employment and professions, nor is any approval process required by the Department of Labor.

This provision ensures that refugees can fully integrate into the labor market and contribute to the economy of the Republic of Cyprus, fostering both independence and inclusion in society.

THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS

Domestic Workers

When moving to Cyprus for employment, third country nationals should apply in advance to the migration authorities in Cyprus for a work and residence permit. Upon registration with the authorities, an entry permit will be issued to the individual. This permit has a usual validity period. It is possible to renew a temporary work and residence permit by submitting the required documents two months before the permit’s expiration date.

Third Country Nationals may
– Apply visa on the grounds of employment contract.
– Apply for social insurance number
– The visa is renewable under specific grounds

Employers who wish to employ a third country national as a domestic worker, must search through EURES (European Employment Service), meaning they must advertise the post in the local press at a conspicuous place in at least two newspapers of mass circulation, as well as at the EURES for 3 weeks.

Registration

Third country nationals must proceed for registration at the appropriate District Office of the Aliens and Immigration Unit of the Police, or the Central Offices of the Migration Department in Nicosia, within 7 days from the date of the arrival. Biometric data such as finger prints and photo are collected.

Duration of Stay

The maximum period of stay for third country nationals who work as domestic workers is 6 years (the initial permit is for 4 years +2 years for the renewal). The permit can be renewed after the 6th year, provided that the domestic worker is applying to work for the same employer.

Social Insurance

Social insurance contributions are made by any individual employed or self-employed in Cyprus. An employer also makes contributions in respect of its employees equally. Employees are allowed to receive income from the social insurance fund during the following periods:

Absence of leave (sick leave)
Maternity Leave
Physical Injury
Pension

Important to note the employee has to fill in the Required Form and submit it to the responsible authority which is the ministry and all the related departments.

Minimum wage for third-country nationals (domestic workers)

As of 1.7.2013, minimum gross monthly wages for domestic workers is €460. Out of this amount, 20,95% is deducted for food, 10% for accommodation, 8,3% for social insurance and 2,65% for GHS. Employee health insurance is paid half way by both parties.

Annual Leave

For a six-day work, a domestic employee is entitled to 24 days of annual leave.

What is the regular working time?

According to the Organization of Working Time Law of 2002-2007, employees’ working time in any week may not exceed the 48 hours on average, including overtime. It is specified though, that more favorable arrangements arising from other Laws or Regulations, personal or collective agreements are not affected by the provisions of the above mentioned Law. Whether someone will work 38 or 40 hours or more a week is a matter governed by the applicable collective agreement or agreement between the two parties.

Change of Employer

No more than 2 changes of employer are allowed during the 6-year employment of domestic workers (except in case of death/repatriation/ transfer of the employer in a nursing home, criminal offense by the employer against the third country citizen or after a decision of the Labour Disputes Committee in favor of the third country citizen). Change of employer is not allowed after 6 years of employment.

Students

According to a recent law, which follows a directive of the European Union, students who are nationals of third countries may now work in Cyprus, in paid economic activity, under certain conditions and for certain kinds of employment sectors. Students of recognized universities or university programmes are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week, in specific occupations and specified sectors of economic activity. They must be full-time students of recognized universities or colleges (or of some additional registered colleges) and they must have spent at least six months of full-time study in Cyprus.

They must be treated equally with Cypriot workers. All minimum labour standards should be respected. The Ministry has prepared a standard contract of employment for use in this case. The standard contract is available at the District Labour Offices.

Occupations and economic activities covered are shown in detail in the Order issued by the Minister. Typical occupations included are the following:

petrol-station
car-wash
care givers for elderly
agriculture/farming, fishing
bakeries
fast-food delivery drivers

The main documents necessary for those wishing to work – and for their employers are the following:

a valid residence permit (with a date of at least six months)
an employment contract, signed by the two parties
a time-table of studies – which should not coincide with the working hours.

Students should first get a student permit from the Immigration Authorities. They should then sign a contract of employment, with an employer, and submit it to a District Employment Office for approval. The Employment Office will check the main conditions and if satisfied will approve the contract. The Law provides for punishment (fine or imprisonment) for those who violate its provisions.

The above is for general information purposes. For more details, see the Aliens and Immigration (Amendment) Law No. 184(I) of 2007 and the Order published on 18 December 2009, by the Minister of Labour, Welfare, and Social Insurance.