Legal Consultant

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is committed to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. This is achieved through the provision of services and advice to governments and migrants.

Labour migration to Cyprus involves a significant population of third-country nationals (TCNs), especially from countries like the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, who often fill domestic, agriculture, care, and construction roles. While these migrants are crucial to the Cypriot economy, a recent Council of Europe report highlighted alarming levels of exploitation, including sub-minimum wages, excessive work hours, and poor legal protections. 

The Cyprus National Migrant Integration Strategy and the National Action Plan are structured around a number of strategic goals that are closely interlinked and interdependent and include economic and social integration, healthcare and training underpinned by legal and policy alignment. The purpose of the study is to support the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection with the baseline information which will contribute towards the implementation of the National Migrant Integration Strategy (2025 – 2029) and the National Action Plan. Based on this initiative, the Deputy Ministry and its partners will be able to identify priority areas for the reform of national legislation and procedures, the purpose of which would be the effective design and eventual implementation of regular migration pathways and effective integration of migrants in the Republic of Cyprus; adding ultimately to a comprehensive protection-centered migration governance framework.

To this end, IOM will hire a national consultant, to carry out a research study analyzing legal frameworks and procedures related to the admission and stay of migrants in regular situation in Cyprus, covering their access to various integration services such as VET training, education, language courses, health care, sociocultural integration, housing, employment. IOM will mainstream gender throughout the research design, implementation, and reporting. The collection, storing and handling of data will be done in full compliance with IOM's Data Protection Principles.

Under the overall coordination of IOM Cyprus and the Regional Coordination Officer on Regular Pathways in Regional Office in Vienna (Regular Pathways), the Consultant will provide expert support to IOM.

• Primary objective: Analyse the current status of the national legal framework regulating labour migration, including recruitment, admission, employment, integration, return, protection, and dispute resolution.
• Secondary objective: Assess stakeholders' needs and challenges - migrant workers (regular/irregular), employers, recruiters, government entities, trade unions, and civil society – in order to identify priority areas for the reform of national legislation and procedures.