FAIR Conference: Employment Barriers and the Realities Facing Asylum Seekers in Cyprus
Asylum seekers in Cyprus face major obstacles when trying to access employment. These include a mandatory 9-month ban on employment with financial support that is far too low to cover basic costs of living, strict sectoral limitations, xenophobia, and exploitative, unlawful working conditions.
Through the FAIR project, we examined these challenges in depth, drawing on insights from surveys, research, and interviews. The aim was to document these realities, raise awareness, and contribute to the development of fairer and more inclusive policies. The project led up to the FAIR Conference, where we presented our research findings on the impact of employment restrictions on asylum seekers in Cyprus, alongside concrete recommendations for more humane and fair policy approaches.
We were honoured to hear a powerful testimony of lived experience, shedding light on the realities of navigating these restrictions firsthand.
We were also joined online by our guest speaker, Julie Pascoet, Policy and Advocacy Manager at the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), who highlighted the challenges racialized asylum seekers face in accessing employment at the European level and the work of ENAR to address such issues.
The conference concluded with a panel discussion bringing together Melina Tringidou from the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights, Stavros Stavrou from UNHCR Cyprus, Manos Mathioudakis from the Cyprus Refugee Council, Corina Demitriou from Symfiliosi and FRANET Cyprus, and Stéphane Noel from Bridge of Hope. The panel engaged in a comprehensive examination of the labour restrictions imposed on asylum seekers in Cyprus, exploring their economic, social, and psychological impacts. The discussion also addressed the objectives of these policies and their broader consequences for asylum seekers and their families.
You can access our full report and policy recommendations via the link provided here: https://generationforchangecy.org/impact-cyprus/
We sincerely thank everyone who attended the conference, participants, guest speakers, and panelists, and especially those who contributed to the FAIR project by generously sharing their time, experiences, and testimonies.
