Ministries launch joint crackdown on undeclared employment

The Ministries of Interior and Labour announced they will start doing checks on Monday in workplaces concerning undeclared employment of third-country nationals.

In a joint statement, they said that the two-month campaign concerns checks in specific job sectors/branches, but also in sectors where large numbers of third-country nationals are employed.

According to the statement, the campaign is aimed at combating undeclared and illegal work on the one hand, and at a more effective management of the immigration policy on the other.

The two Ministries said that 83 cases of illegal employment of third-country nationals emerged during 1,525 inspections by the competent Service of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance between May and July this year.

It also notes that, in the framework of the campaign, the Inspection Service of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance will further intensify checks as regards illegal and/or undeclared employment of third-country nationals.

It is noted that the checks will be carried out in coordination with both the Civil Registry and Immigration Department and the Asylum Service of the Ministry of Interior, as well as with other services involved, such as the Aliens and Immigration Unit of the Cyprus Police.

It is recalled that according to the law, the employment of a foreign national without the necessary permit, employment that violates the terms of the work permit or employment that violates any law or regulation, constitutes an offence punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to €20,000. The law also provides for administrative fines of up to €1,500 (rising to €3,000 in the case of any subsequent infringement), as well as banning offenders from employing third-country nationals.

As regards violations of the law concerning applicants of international protection, offenders are subject to a prison sentence of up to 3 years and/or a fine of up to €8,000.

Third-country nationals who are found to commit an offence are also subject to penalties including imprisonment and/or a fine according to the law, it said.