Nicosia, Cyprus. Labour ministry inspectors identified 13 undeclared employees during checks in the education sector and retail businesses, issuing fines totalling €25,000.
Education sector inspections
Inspectors carried out checks at 63 premises, identifying 40 employers and 23 self-employed individuals among a total workforce of 211 people, including 25 men and 186 women.
Of those employed, 153 were Greek Cypriots, 40 were EU citizens and 18 were third-country nationals.
Four undeclared salaried employees were identified, leading to the issuance of two administrative fines amounting to €16,500.
Retail business inspections
Inspectors checked 202 premises and identified 188 employers and 14 self-employed individuals among a total workforce of 617 employees, including 205 men and 412 women.
Of those workers, 405 were Greek Cypriots, 108 EU citizens, one Turkish Cypriot and 103 third-country nationals.
Nine undeclared employees were found in the sector, with eight administrative fines issued amounting to €8,500.
Penalty framework and reporting
The inspection service said that under existing legislation, employers face an administrative fine of €1,000 for each undeclared employee for the month in which the violation is detected, increasing by €500 for each additional month over a six-month period.
For repeat offences within two years, the fine rises to €2,000 for a second violation and €3,000 for a third and subsequent offences.
An anonymous or named complaint about undeclared work or employment breaches can be made via the Cyprus-wide hotline 77778577.
Have you reported undeclared work or employment breaches through the hotline 77778577?
