A Short Guide to Working in Cyprus – Your Rights at Work: Discrimination, Minors & Whistleblowing
Cyprus law protects employees from discrimination, sets special rules for young workers, and safeguards people who report wrongdoing. Here’s what’s covered.
Step 1: Know Your Protection from Discrimination
⚖️Anti-Discrimination Legislation
There is specific statutory prohibition of discrimination on grounds of:
- Sex, race, community, language, colour, religion, political or other beliefs
- National or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or disability
This applies to both direct and indirect discrimination, in private and public sector activities, including in relation to:
- Access to employment and self-employment, at all levels of the professional hierarchy
- Employment terms, including promotions
- Access to all kinds of vocational orientation, training, education, and retraining
- Conditions and terms of dismissals and remuneration
- Membership of an employers’ or employees’ organisation
Step 2: Know the Rules for Minors
🧒Working as a Minor
- Asylum seekers under 15 can only be employed for light cultural or artistic activities (e.g. film production), with prior approval from the Department of Labour
- Unaccompanied minors between 15 and 18 have very limited access to the labour market, because most, if not all, professions are excluded from unaccompanied minors’ status — though they enjoy equal participation limitations that apply to all minors (Cypriots and foreigners alike)
- Numerous protections on working hour restrictions and licensing requirements also apply to minors
Step 3: Know You’re Protected If You Report Wrongdoing
📢Whistleblowing
Whistle-blowers have the right to protection from retaliation and the right to access to courts. Dismissal on grounds of whistleblowing is also considered unlawful, and the relevant law provides internal reporting channels and monitoring procedures for breaches of EU and national law.
Your Next Steps
- If you believe you’ve faced discrimination at work, you can file a claim — talk to an NGO or the Ombudsman for guidance.
- If you’re a minor looking for work, check first whether the activity is permitted and get the required approval.
- If you witness wrongdoing at work, know that reporting it is protected by law.
Source: Inclusive Labour Market — A Short Guide to Working in Cyprus for Refugees and Asylum Seekers, May 2023.