Cyprus//work abroad

Cyprus maintains very good relations with a considerable number of countries and the objective of its foreign policy is to have an active involvement in processes that aim to promote international co-operation, peace, stability, and sustainable development.

Cyprus has always been a dedicated supporter of human rights, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and a strong advocate of international peace and security. Its geographic position enables it to play a role both in the Eastern Mediterranean region and within the European family. Its accession to the European Union initiated new era in its relations with third countries, thus becoming a bridge of communication between the European Union and these countries.

The Multilateral Affairs Department is the competent Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its relations with International Organisations and other Fora

The four Bilateral Affairs Departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are responsible for bilateral relations with countries and regional organisations belonging to the following four geographic areas:

Department of the Americas
Department of Africa
Department of the Middle East
Department of Asia and Oceania

Human Rights

The protection of human rights in the Republic of Cyprus is mainly based on international human rights treaties. More precisely, Part II of the Constitution of the Republic sets out the Fundamental Rights and Liberties, by incorporating verbatim and in some instances expanding upon, the rights and freedoms of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The Fundamental Rights and Liberties of Part II of the Constitution, are expressly guaranteed to “everyone” or to “all persons” or to “every person”, without any distinction or differentiation between citizens and non-citizens of the Republic, or between citizens of the Republic who belong to the Greek and Turkish communities, and without any distinction or differentiation on grounds of religion, or nationality or on other grounds.

Article 35 of the Constitution, imposes on the executive, legislative and judiciary, a duty to secure within the limits of their competence, the efficient application of the provisions of the Constitution setting out the said Fundamental Rights and Liberties. Article 179.3 obliges the legislative, executive and administrative authorities of the Republic, not to enact laws, or issue acts or decisions, which are in any way repugnant to, or inconsistent with, any of the provisions of the Constitution, including the human rights provisions thereto.

The Republic of Cyprus has signed or ratified most international and regional legal instruments in the field of human rights, which cover not only individual civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, but also rights in the field of protection and respect of minorities and combating racism. The Republic is bound by a large number of multilateral human rights conventions, which were ratified either by law enacted by the House of Representatives (Article 169.2 of the Constitution) or under the doctrine of succession in respect to those international documents which were binding on Cyprus before it was declared a Republic (Section 8 of the Treaty of Establishment)
According to the express provisions of Article 169.3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, all international legal instruments are, by virtue of their ratification by the Republic of Cyprus and publication thereof in the Official Gazette of the Republic, incorporated into the Republic’s municipal law, and are, as from the date of their publication, of superior force to any municipal law. Therefore, the significance of such international legal instruments is of paramount importance with regard to existing as well as to future legislation, since the latter must be in conformity with the provisions of the undertaken by the Republic of Cyprus international obligations.

Representation of workers

The system of industrial relations in Cyprus is based on voluntary regulation of relations by employers’ associations and trade unions. The right of labour to organise is safeguarded, and employees are protected against the possibility of dismissal because of union membership.

Matters pertaining to collective negotiations, collective agreements and the settlement of disputes and the conditions governing the calling of strikes and the imposition of lockouts are regulated by the Labour Relations Code.

Many workers are members of a union. Negotiations between unions and employers’ associations culminate in collective agreements which determine the terms of employment, including payment levels and increases. The agreements are usually renewed every two years. They are usually concluded at branch level and implemented at the enterprises of the branch.