undeclared work

Illegal work , ‘a problem for all’

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Illegal work , ‘a problem for all’

Illegal and undeclared work in Cyprus is a growing trend, particularly in the construction industry, where it is approaching 25%. The Cyprus economy relies on employing people other than Cypriots, but this needs to be done with appropriate regulations. Third country personnel are attracted through illegal procedures in the promise of a job. The construction sector contributes about 15% to the island’s GDP, with optimistic forecasts for 2024. There are currently 40 projects underway in the construction sector worth €862 million.

Famagusta Police arrest eight in undocumented work raid

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Famagusta Police arrest eight in undocumented work raid

A joint operation by the Alien and Migration Department and the Ministry of Labour in Famagusta district targeted a building renovation site to investigate undeclared work, social security violations, minimum wage issues, and illegal employment. Eight foreign nationals were arrested, six for working without proper documentation and two for residing in the country illegally. The employer of four individuals, a 69-year-old man, confessed to the offences. Investigations are ongoing to identify the remaining employers. The Ayia Napa Police Station is handling the investigation for the five documented cases of illegal employment.

Arrests for illegal work

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Arrests for illegal work

Fact: Police arrested six people for illegal employment and two for illegal residence in a property under renovation in Famagusta province.

IWW Cyprus: Workers spend the majority of their daily lives in undemocratic workplaces

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IWW Cyprus: Workers spend the majority of their daily lives in undemocratic workplaces

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is a global labor union that has been organizing in Cyprus since 2020. The IWW stands out from traditional trade unions by being a union for all workers, including minorities, migrants, and sex workers. The IWW is not trying to be friendly with employers and government, unlike traditional unions. The IWW is a horizontal organization that values transparency and full participation rights for all members. The IWW encourages workers to join traditional trade unions as well. In Cyprus, the IWW organizes all workers under one big union, unlike traditional federations divided by profession or sector. The IWW aims to prioritize organizing over mere mobilizing and believes in forming strong relationships with fellow workers.

Minister warns of escalating undeclared work crisis

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Minister warns of escalating undeclared work crisis

Undeclared work is a growing concern in the construction industry, according to Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou. If not addressed soon, it will become a much bigger problem. Panayiotou also expressed optimism for the renewal of the collective agreement in the construction sector and emphasized the need for improving, not worsening, the terms and conditions of work.

Cyprus: Only 25% of asylum seekers are registered with social insurance services, Minister says

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Cyprus: Only 25% of asylum seekers are registered with social insurance services, Minister says

The government plans to introduce new legislation to address undeclared and illegal labor, with bills set to be presented to the House of Representatives in June for a vote before the summer recess. Labor Minister Yannis Panagiotou highlighted the recent increase in such practices and emphasized the need for swift action. The Minister also discussed benefits for Turkish Cypriots under the Ministry of Labour’s jurisdiction and presented data showing a correlation between undeclared labor and increased migration. The proposed legislative changes include increasing fines for undeclared work to €1000 and holding main contractors liable in addition to subcontractors. Additionally, there will be provisions for electronic registration of all employees in the Ministry’s information system.

‘Police conducting hotel checks by the book’

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‘Police conducting hotel checks by the book’

Police have been conducting checks at hotels in accordance with procedures following complaints from the hoteliers’ association (Pasyxe) about raids causing panic. Several complaints had been filed against a hotel group in the Paphos area. Arrests related to combating illegal employment in Cyprus had doubled within a year in the Paphos area. Labor Minister Yiannis Panyiotou emphasized the need to tackle illegal and undeclared work effectively. The general director of Pasyxe suggested that police could have conducted operations with more discretion, particularly in the incident in Paphos where around 30 police officers caused panic by entering a hotel.

Government ramps up crackdown of undeclared work

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Government ramps up crackdown of undeclared work

– Around eight per cent of the workforce, or 40,000 people, are illegally employed in Cyprus, resulting in a loss of revenue to the social insurance fund of €10 million a year.
– The government has approved a plan to strengthen measures to combat undeclared work, including implementing a system of extra-judicial fines for employers.
– The fine for each instance of undeclared work will increase from €500 to €1,000 and will be doubled in the event of a future offence by the same employer.
– Authorities will increase the number of inspections to target specific work sites and times, and there will be increased coordinated inspections between different departments.
– The government will conduct an outreach campaign for third-country nationals legally in Cyprus who are not identified as legal workers.
– The government will investigate employers of undeclared workers for links to people-smugglers.
– Legislative changes will be submitted to the House, including the creation of a digital census of all employees and liability for main contractors and subcontractors in cases of undeclared work.