**Nicosia, Cyprus** – A prominent youth organization has issued a stark warning regarding the ongoing exploitation of interns in Cyprus, criticising the government’s decision to postpone national legislation in favour of awaiting a European directive. Peo’s youth office, a trade union organisation, expressed deep disappointment on Thursday, asserting that the government’s stance represents a significant setback and will perpetuate a system where students and young workers are treated as disposable labour.
The crux of the issue lies in the government's apparent reluctance to establish a robust legal framework governing internships. While stakeholders, including unions and employers, had anticipated the submission of a bill by the end of 2025, the Labour Minister has now indicated that the government will not proceed with national legislation at this juncture. Instead, the administration intends to defer to the forthcoming European directive on internships, planning to harmonise domestic law only after its finalisation. This approach has been met with considerable consternation by Peo, which views it as a deliberate stalling tactic, particularly as the organisation claims employers have been instrumental in advocating for this delay.
Peo’s spokesperson articulated a fervent argument that student interns are, in essence, workers who contribute meaningfully to the productivity and profitability of businesses. Yet, they frequently find themselves in precarious situations, often undertaking demanding work without any remuneration and with a conspicuous absence of fundamental labour rights. This systemic vulnerability, Peo contends, renders them susceptible to pervasive exploitation, a situation exacerbated by the current legislative vacuum. The organisation maintains that all necessary groundwork for national legislation, including comprehensive consultations with all relevant parties, had already been meticulously completed.
The government’s rationale for this postponement, as communicated by the Labour Minister to the House labour committee, is to ensure alignment with emerging European standards. The intention is to await the conclusion of processes at the European level concerning the directive, and subsequently to mould national legislation in accordance with these new provisions. However, Peo has countered this by highlighting that discussions surrounding a European directive have been ongoing and publicly acknowledged for a considerable period. This suggests that the government’s reliance on this European development as a sole justification for delaying domestic action may be a convenient pretext, rather than an unavoidable necessity.
The implications of this protracted delay are far-reaching. Without clear legislative guidelines, the "grey areas" surrounding the internship regime are likely to persist, leaving interns vulnerable to unfair labour practices. This uncertainty is particularly acute for students who require internships to fulfil the professional licensing requirements for their chosen careers. The continued lack of regulation not only deprives these young individuals of fair compensation and basic rights but also undermines the integrity of professional development pathways, potentially leaving them with little recourse against exploitative practices. The government's decision, therefore, risks prolonging a situation that actively disadvantages a crucial segment of the Cypriot workforce.