Student arrested while delivering food to Paphos Immigration

Paphos immigration officers arrested a delivery guy from Bangladesh, after he had gone to their department to deliver a food order.

According to police, officers working at the Immigration Services Department in Paphos had called in a food order for delivery on Saturday around noon.

A delivery man, described by police as a 26-year-old student from Bangladesh, delivered the food around 12:45pm and was asked to show identification papers.

Local media reported Friday that the man had been arrested on suspicion of unlawful presence in Cyprus.

But police told Knews that the 26-year-old was staying legally in Cyprus on a valid student visa and he was released later that day, with illegal employment charges pending against him.

The employer of the student, described as a 61-year-old Cypriot, is also facing charges of employing a person illegally.

Foreign students on valid visas may work legally in Cyprus as long as they follow certain restrictions as well as obtain permission from Immigration. Knews understands that a written contract must be signed by both parties with strict compliance to labour laws and regulations. 

Leading figures within several industries have repeatedly called for easing restrictions on foreign student visas, particularly in the hotel industry where there is a shortage of hotel staff in specific job categories, such as dishwashers who must work based on demand or other unskilled positions.

They argue that easing visa restrictions for foreign students could not only benefit the individuals with summer part time or work but also help alleviate some of the problems in the industry.