Migrant workers face triple risk of forced labour, Nicosia event hears

Economy inequalitymigrationTop Newsworkers' rights Migrant workers face triple risk of forced labour, Nicosia event hears People At The Pournara Migrant Reception Centre. January 14. Mattpress George Christophorou Relevant News Migrant workers face triple risk of forced labour, Nicosia event hears 30 July 2026 How climate change is making Cyprus wildfires harder to control 30 July 2026 Cyprus: an Israeli plot of land, an Israeli colony? 30 July 2026 newsroom 30 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Migrant workers face almost three times the risk of being subjected to forced labour compared with non-migrant workers, according to International Labour Organisation (ILO) data presented at a round-table discussion in Nicosia. Lawyers and trade union representatives at the event highlighted the need to strengthen protections for migrant workers through better information, more effective inspections and easier access to support mechanisms and justice. The discussion, titled “Promoting fair employment for the migrant workforce in Cyprus,” took place on Thursday at the Journalists’ Union building, to mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. It was organised as part of the HOST project, “Addressing Trafficking in Persons in the Hospitality Sector,” implemented by Step Up Stop Slavery with EU funding and support from the Ministry of Justice and Public Order and the European Commission Representation in Cyprus. Participants included representatives of state services, migrant communities, trade unions, non-governmental organisations, the Department of Labour Inspection and law enforcement authorities, as well as employers from the hospitality sector. “Exploitation is hiding in plain sight” Susan Kerr, head of the Human Rights Department at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, stressed the need for cooperation between state authorities, civil society, migrant communities and the private sector. Speaking via video link, she said human trafficking constitutes a violation of fundamental rights that requires a coordinated response. “Labour exploitation often hides in plain sight,” she said, adding that it can be found “behind the doors of hotels and restaurants, in recruitment agencies, in subcontracting chains and in workplaces many of us encounter every day.” She said the hospitality sector, despite its contribution to economic growth and job creation, can conceal forms of labour exploitation. “Across OSCE member states, we continue to identify cases of human trafficking and labour exploitation in this sector, making today’s discussion particularly timely and particularly important here in Cyprus,” she added. Almost 28 million people in forced labour Citing the OSCE’s 2026 Survey Report, Kerr said trafficking for labour exploitation is rising and has become the most frequently identified form of trafficking among OSCE member states. According to the data she presented, labour exploitation accounts for almost one third of recognised trafficking victims among OSCE member states. She also referred to ILO data showing that around 28 million people worldwide are trapped in forced labour conditions. Migrant workers face heightened risks due to limited access to information about their rights, language barriers, social isolation and dependence on employers or recruitment agencies. “The ILO estimates that migrant workers are almost three times more likely than non-migrant workers to be subjected to forced labour,” she said. Kerr made clear, however, that migration should not be equated with vulnerability. “Migrant workers are not the problem here,” she said. “The real vulnerability lies not in migration, but in the conditions and protection gaps that continue to exist in our systems, which can leave migrant workers exposed to greater risk of exploitation.” From unpaid wages to trafficking Kerr said exploitation typically develops gradually and can begin with unpaid wages, excessive working hours, misleading recruitment processes or restrictions on freedom of movement. She described National Referral Mechanisms as essential tools for coordinating the services and organisations involved in identifying and protecting victims. “Identification is not the finish line. It is the starting point,” she said, noting that victims must have access to legal advice, social services, healthcare, psychological support and long-term assistance for their recovery. She also stressed the importance of involving survivors and migrant communities in the design of policies and actions. “Survivors are not only recipients of protection and assistance. They are experts,” she said. Over 1,200 people trained through HOST Katerina Stefanou, director of Step Up Stop Slavery, described HOST as a pioneering initiative and said it represents the first EU-level effort at active cooperation with the hospitality sector in tackling human trafficking. More than 1,200 people were trained during the project’s first year of implementation, including more than 400 municipal staff, over 300 hospitality workers and more than 500 migrant workers. The training focused on identifying trafficking incidents, labour rights and the support mechanisms available. “We already have legislation and mechanisms against human trafficking, including the National Referral Mechanism and the National Action Plan. However, the effectiveness of these measures depends on cooperation between all parties involved,” she said. Labour exploitation at 36% in the EU Alexis Pantelides, information and communication officer at the European Commission Representation in Cyprus, said human trafficking remains a serious and constantly evolving crime in the EU. He said around 10,000 victims are officially recorded each year, while many more cases are believed to go undetected. Labour exploitation now accounts for 36 per cent of recognised trafficking cases in the EU. In Cyprus, foreign nationals make up almost 40 per cent of the hospitality sector workforce, compared with around 9 per cent across the economy as a whole. Andreas Hatzigeorgiou, representing the Justice Ministry’s National Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Persons, said the growing need for staff in hospitality and tourism makes safe and fair working conditions essential. Third-country workers, he said, can face heightened vulnerability due to opaque recruitment processes, language barriers, insufficient information and dependence on specific employers. “Trafficking in persons for the purpose of labour exploitation constitutes a flagrant violation of fundamental human rights and an affront to human dignity,” he said, adding that “economic development cannot be built at the expense of protecting workers’ rights.” Practical difficulties in applying the law Lawyer Eleni Charalambous said the core issue is not the absence of legislation but its effective implementation. She explained that third-country workers often face difficulties exercising their rights. She clarified that a person’s residence status does not affect their basic labour rights, since “the employer’s obligation to apply labour law does not change, nor does the obligation to pay wages.” She also stressed the need to distinguish between human trafficking and other forms of labour exploitation. “Before we get to trafficking in persons, there are many other violations of labour law and forms of labour exploitation that may not legally constitute trafficking,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean the other forms of exploitation are any less significant,” she added. Charalambous said workers face obstacles accessing justice due to insufficient information or the limited authority of certain services. “The problem isn’t so much the legal framework as its practical application,” she said, adding that mechanisms are needed that workers can turn to from the earliest stages of labour exploitation, rather than only once a case develops into trafficking. Confusion over asylum seekers’ right to work Particular reference was made to asylum seekers, as confusion is sometimes observed regarding their right to work, leaving some without legal employment for extended periods. “A more functional information system is needed, so that it is clear to all relevant services what the status of each asylum seeker is,” Charalambous said. She also highlighted the need for better coordination between relevant services and stronger awareness campaigns on labour rights. SEK app for worker information Panayiotis Ioannides, secretary of SEK’s Hotel Workers’ Union, said labour institutions in Cyprus function at a satisfactory level, but additional tools are needed to give workers direct access to information and support. “When we talk about workers, we make no distinction. For us, there are no migrant, European or Cypriot workers. Collective agreements apply to everyone. Labour law applies to everyone,” he said. The federation is developing a mobile phone app through which workers will be able to access information in their own language about collective agreements, labour law and their rights. Ioannides also proposed the creation of joint task forces involving all relevant services, as well as tougher penalties for violations of labour law. Subcontracting chains a “scourge” He made particular reference to staffing agencies and subcontracting chains in the hospitality sector. “Subcontracting chains are a scourge for the hospitality sector across Europe, not just in Cyprus,” he said. According to Ioannides, in some cases workers are employed through such schemes on terms that diverge from the hotel industry’s collective agreements. He added that European trade unions have already submitted proposals to the European Commission to limit the phenomenon. PEO: Full application of collective agreements Neofytos Timinis, general secretary of PEO’s Hotel Workers’ Union, stressed that worker protection should not vary according to origin. “For us, fair employment is not a theoretical concept. It is a matter of class solidarity and equality,” he said. He described migrant workers as “an equal part of the working class” and said protecting everyone depends on “unity and a shared struggle against exploitation.” Collective agreements, he argued, are a key tool for tackling exploitation. He also expressed concern over practices that lead to a deterioration in employment conditions for third-country workers. “The only criterion for employing third-country workers must be the full application of the sectoral collective agreement for all workers,” he said. On workers for digital delivery platforms, he said the sector needs further regulation, as “exploitation remains significant.” Testimonies of unpaid wages and fear of reporting Irene Che, chair of Step Up Stop Slavery’s Survivors Advisory Council, referred to the experiences of migrant workers who faced unpaid wages, excessive working hours and fear of reporting abuse because of their residence status. “When workers believe that reporting abuse could put their income, their residence status or even their housing at risk, exploitation stays hidden,” she said. “Work should never force someone to choose between keeping a job and protecting their rights,” she added, stressing that “dignity at work is not a privilege, it is a right.” Read more: Foreign workers make up 40% of social insurance fund contributions Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News How climate change is making Cyprus wildfires harder to control Cyprus: an Israeli plot of land, an Israeli colony? An island of cooperation Defence disputes car lock findings in Xylofagou boys’ deaths case The effort on the Cyprus problem, and its prospects, kept alive Nostalgia is not a good strategy SBA Police opens new marine unit station at Episkopi Bay Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.