in-cyprus 28 March 2025
Cyprus’s parliament has approved new legislation against workplace violence and harassment that trade unions and labour experts describe as a significant advancement in employee protections.
The Violence and Harassment in the Workplace Law of 2025, passed by the plenary session of the House of Representatives on Thursday, establishes criminal penalties for workplace intimidation and creates comprehensive frameworks for addressing complaints.
The SEK trade union in a statement, expressed satisfaction with the legislation, describing it as “the culmination of long-term interventions and recommendations to executive and legislative authorities” that establishes “strong foundations for dignified working conditions”.
The law defines workplace harassment as unwanted conduct that aims to or results in violating a person’s dignity, creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment.
Workplace violence encompasses actions, omissions, practices, or behaviours, including threats, that cause or may cause physical, sexual, psychological, or economic harm.
The new law provides expansive definitions of workplace harassment and violence, covering a range of environments beyond traditional office settings. According to the legislative text, protected locations include:
- Areas where employees are paid, rest, or dine
- Work-related trips, training sessions, events, and social activities
- Work-related communications, including those facilitated by information and communication technologies
- Employer-provided accommodations
- Commuting to and from work
The law grants substantial enforcement powers to the Labour Inspection Service, which will be responsible for investigating complaints.
SEK has called on the agency to “demonstrate zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviours that undermine a healthy and safe working environment”.
The legislation extends protections beyond traditional employees to include third parties with customer or contractual relationships, service providers, and visitors to workplaces.
The legislation takes effect immediately upon publication in the Government’s Official Gazette.
