A Short Guide to Working in Cyprus – Labour Relations, Trade Unions & Useful Contacts

If a dispute comes up at work, you don’t have to face it alone. Cyprus law protects your right to organise, and there are clear channels to file a complaint. Here’s where to turn.

Step 1: Know Your Right to Organise

🤝Collective Relations

Article 21 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus protects the right of association, including specifically the right to establish and join a trade union. Cyprus has a relatively high level of trade union organisation. The main national, multi-sectoral workers’ organisations are:

• PEO – Pancyprian Federation of Labour
• SEK – Cyprus Workers Confederation
• DEOK – Democratic Labour Federation of Cyprus
• POAS – Pancyprian Federation of Independent Trade Unions

Other independent sectoral workers’ organisations include PASYDY (Pancyprian Public Servants Union), POED (Pancyprian Organisation of Greek Teachers), OELMEK (Pancyprian Secondary Education Teachers Union), and ETYK (Union of Banking Employees of Cyprus).

Step 2: Know How to File a Complaint

📝If You Have a Dispute With Your Employer

Employees are entitled to a written notice of termination outlining the grounds — and to a chance to respond, if the termination is based on unsatisfactory performance or misconduct.

Asylum seekers wishing to file a complaint against their employer need to:

1. File the complaint with the Aliens and Immigration Unit of the Police, which is then sent to the competent District Office of the Department of Labour Relations
2. The relevant District Office will call both parties (employee and employer) to a meeting, so they may take a position on the matter
3. Following this meeting, an inspector of the Labour Relations Department prepares a statement of facts, with a recommendation, which comprises an official position that they send to the Labour Disputes Resolution Committee
4. The recommendation is then sent to an official of the Civil Registry and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior, and an official of the Civil Registry and Migration Unit of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, who take a position in writing
5. The final decision is then taken by the Assistant Director of the Civil Registry and Migration Department, who notifies the two parties. Recognised refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection may file their complaint directly with the Department of Labour Relations.

Step 3: Save These Useful Contacts

📞Useful Contacts

• Asylum Service: Arch. Makarios III Ave. 70, Nicosia — 22445245 — info@asylum.moi.gov.cy
• Cyprus Refugee Council: Stasandrou 9, 4th Fl., 1060 Nicosia — 22205959 — info@cyrefugeecouncil.org (also see the Help Refugees Work platform)
• UNHCR Cyprus Office: Polyviou Dimitrakopoulou, Egkomi — 22359043 — cypni@unhcr.org (also see the HELP platform)
• Department of Labour: Clementos 9, 1061 Nicosia — 22400801 — director@dl.mlsi.gov.cy
• Department of Labour Relations: Griva Digeni 54, 1096 Nicosia — 22803100 — info@dlr.mlsi.gov.cy
• Department of Labour Inspection: 12 Apellis, 1080 Nicosia — 22405623 — info@dli.mlsi.gov.cy
• Social Insurance Services: Vyronos 7, 1465 Nicosia — 22401600 — director@sid.mlsi.gov.cy
• Cyprus Bar Association: Florinis 11, Office 101, 1st Floor, 1065 Nicosia — 22873300 — info@cba.org.cy
• Ombudsman / Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights: Era House, Diagorou 2, 1097 Nicosia — 22672881 — ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.cy
• Gender Equality in Employment and Vocational Training Committee: Vyronos 7, 1463 Nicosia — 22400894 — genderequalitycommittee@mlsi.gov.cy
• PEO – Pancyprian Federation of Labour: Archermou 29, 1045 Nicosia — 22866400 — peo@peo.org.cy
• SEK – Cyprus Workers Confederation: Leof. Strovolou 11, 2018 Strovolos — 22849849 — sek@sek.org.cy
• DEOK – Democratic Labour Federation of Cyprus: Vyronos 40, 1096 Nicosia — 22872177 — contact@deok.org.cy
• POAS – Pancyprian Federation of Independent Trade Unions: Athalassas 168, Minos Ct., Off. 401, 2025 Strovolos — 22516600 — info@poas.org.cy

Your Next Steps

1. Save the contacts above that are most relevant to your situation.
2. If you have a workplace dispute, start by contacting the Department of Labour Relations or the Aliens and Immigration Unit of the Police.
3. Remember that joining a trade union is a right protected by the Constitution.
4. Reach out to Caritas or another NGO if you need help navigating any of these steps.

Source: Inclusive Labour Market — A Short Guide to Working in Cyprus for Refugees and Asylum Seekers, May 2023.