Seven arrested in illegal work crackdown

Police raided a hotel in Protaras on Easter Monday, arresting seven individuals during an operation to combat illegal employment.

Authorities had received information that workers at the hotel had been working either illegally, that is without employment authorisation, or they were staying in the Republic of Cyprus without proper documents.

Three of the men in custody had come to Cyprus without visa documents, according to media reports, while another had an expired visa and three others had valid visas which did not allow them to work at the hotel.

Recent laws, which were passed by the House last year, provide for employers to be fined €500 for each person providing labour unlawfully, with retroactive fines up to €3500.

There are 41 Greek Cypriots, 12 Turkish Cypriots, 72 European citizens, and 11 foreign nationals of other countries working at the hotel, which will now have to pay €16,000 in fees for undeclared or illegal work. 

The employer of the seven individuals was not arrested but had to go to the police station, where he learned of the authorities’ intention to proceed with fines.

It was not immediately clear if any person would be deported as s direct result of Monday's raid, but Cyprus police have consistently been detaining persons on charges of illegal employment in the past. Any violation of visa terms is grounds for deportation.