A draft decree defining the economic sectors in which foreign students may be employed in Cyprus is set to be presented to social partners on Friday, during a meeting of the Labour Advisory Board. The draft also sets out the criteria that must be met for employment to be permitted.
Draft Decree Presented To Social Partners
The draft decision (decree) will be discussed within the framework of the Labour Advisory Board, outlining both the permitted sectors of economic activity and the specific conditions under which third-country nationals studying in Cyprus may work.
General Conditions For Employment
According to the draft decree, the employment of third-country nationals residing in the Republic as students is permitted in specific sectors and occupations, provided that they:
- Have completed their first academic semester of studies, and
- Are registered for their second semester.
Required Documentation
Employment is subject to the submission of the following documents:
- A certificate of full-time student status from a recognised educational institution
- An official document outlining the student’s study timetable
- The student’s monthly work schedule, provided by the employer
- A copy of the student’s residence permit in the Republic of Cyprus
- A specific employment contract with a named employer, certified by the Department of Labour, detailing the main terms and conditions of employment
Permitted Sectors And Occupations
Trade And Commerce
Foreign students may be employed in wholesale and retail trade as:
- Loaders and unloading workers
- Petrol station and car wash attendants
Health Sector
Employment is permitted as:
- Caregivers in residential homes for the elderly
- Ward assistants in clinics
This is conditional upon holding a secondary school leaving certificate and having basic knowledge of the Greek language.
Domestic And Manufacturing Work
Students may also be employed in:
- Occasional domestic work
- Manufacturing, as workers in:
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Bakeries
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Animal feed production units
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Waste recycling facilities
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Night-shift positions in manufacturing industries
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Additionally, employment is allowed in:
- Agriculture
- Livestock farming
- Fisheries
- Animal care services
Services Sector
Permitted occupations in the services sector include:
- Building cleaners
- Sewerage workers
- Distributors of advertising or informational mail
- Ready-meal delivery workers
Catering And Hospitality
In the food and hospitality sector, foreign students may be employed as:
- Ready-meal delivery workers
- Kitchen assistants
- Cleaners
- Waiters and waitresses (exclusively in restaurants and leisure centres)
- Bartenders (exclusively in restaurants and leisure centres)
In hotels, employment is permitted in the roles of:
- Kitchen assistants
- Cleaners
- Chambermaids
- Waiters and waitresses
- Reception staff
- Bartenders
Retail And Information Technology
The draft decree also allows foreign students to work as retail salespersons, based on the findings of labour market monitoring and assessment.
Furthermore, students enrolled in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) study programmes may work in the following roles:
- Assistant application programmer
- Assistant systems analyst
- Assistant software designer
- Assistant web and multimedia designer
Postgraduate And Doctoral Students
Postgraduate and doctoral students are permitted to work on research programmes or research activities conducted within:
- Their higher education institution, or
- A certified research institution participating in a doctoral programme
This is provided that the research work is directly related to the students’ field of study.
The draft decree is expected to form the basis for consultations with social partners before any final decision is adopted.