Working in Cyprus - Special Categories

• The telephone number of the Department of Labour of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance is +357 22 871 300/302. 

There are various vocational rehabilitation schemes for people with disabilities, for which financial assistance is provided. 

The schemes are the Self-Employment Scheme for people with disabilities, the Vocational Training Scheme for people with disabilities in specialisations which are not offered by the Centre for the Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled (KEAA) and the Employment Support Scheme. The KEAA is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Labour and provides training in skills such as shoe-making, furniture-making, broom-making, cutting and tailoring, knitting and basket-making.

Many large organisations recruit partially disabled persons. The Social Insurance Department pays benefits to disabled people according to the degree of disability.

There are specific provisions governing the employment of very young people (15 to 18 years of age). Persons in that age group are not allowed to work for more than 38 hours a week and between the hours of 23:00 and 07:00.

Pregnant women are protected by legislation against unlawful dismissal. Discrimination on grounds of religion or beliefs, age, disability and sexual orientation is prohibited by a specific law. There is also legislation providing protection against sexual harassment. The Cyprus Employers’ and Industrialists’ Federation (OEB) has issued a document concerning the latter issue.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance is the competent body with regard to all the above-mentioned matters.

Text last edited on: 12/2007

Source: European Union
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