A major youth organization in Cyprus is warning about the bad treatment of interns. They are very unhappy that the government has delayed new laws. Peo’s youth office, a big union, said they are very disappointed. They think this government decision is a big step backward. They say it will let companies use young people as cheap workers.
The problem is that the government is not making clear rules for internships. Unions and employers expected a new law by the end of 2025. However, the Minister of Labour said there will be no new law now. The government wants to wait for a new European rule about internships. Then, they will make their own laws. Peo is very upset about this. They think the government is trying to stop progress. They also claim some employers wanted this delay.
Peo’s spokesperson said that student interns help companies make money. However, they often have difficult jobs without pay. They also do not have basic worker rights. Peo believes this makes them easy to exploit. The lack of laws makes this problem worse. Peo says they have already done all the work needed for new laws. They talked to many people about it.
The Minister of Labour explained the delay to a government committee. He said they want to match new European rules. They will wait for the European process to finish. Then, they will create their national laws. However, Peo said that talks about the European rule have been happening for a long time. They think the government is using the European rule as an excuse.
This delay will cause more problems. Without clear rules, interns will still be treated unfairly. This is a big problem for students who need internships for their jobs. The lack of rules means young people do not get fair pay or rights. It also hurts their training for future careers. The government's decision could continue to harm many young workers in Cyprus.