Nicosia, Cyprus. Migrant workers need better access to information about their rights to prevent abuse by unscrupulous employers, speakers said at a roundtable held on Thursday.
The event was organised in connection with World Day Against Trafficking, observed annually on July 30, and was attended by lawyers and representatives of the SEK and PEO trade unions.
Implementation of labour laws
Attorney Eleni Charalambous said the main issue was not the lack of legislation protecting workers’ rights, but its effective implementation.
Workers from non-EU countries often face difficulties in exercising their rights, she said. A person’s residence status does not affect their labour rights or an employer’s obligation to comply with labour laws and pay wages, she added.
Labour exploitation and trafficking
Charalambous said it was important to distinguish human trafficking from other forms of labour exploitation.
Before a situation meets the legal definition of trafficking, workers may face numerous labour-law violations and other forms of exploitation, she said.
Access to justice
Migrant workers frequently encounter practical barriers in accessing the justice system because they are unaware of their rights, Charalambous said.
She called for mechanisms allowing workers to approach relevant services from the early stages of labour exploitation, rather than only when a case develops into trafficking.
She also noted that asylum seekers can face confusion over their right to work, leaving some unemployed for extended periods.
