Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus will double the number of inspectors responsible for tackling undeclared and illegal work following cabinet approval, Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas said on Friday.
The ministry’s inspection service currently has eight inspectors, with additional posts expected to be included in either this year’s or next year’s state budget.
Expanded workplace checks
Mousiouttas said the inspections aim to ensure compliance with legislation covering undeclared work, illegal work and employment conditions.
He said increasing the number of inspectors would enable more workplace checks, while acknowledging that it was not possible for the service to be present everywhere.
Police operation and planned penalties
The announcement followed a police raid at 16 catering establishments targeting undeclared workers, during which 47 people were arrested for illegal employment or illegal residence.
Labour relations department director Andis Apostolou said some people identified during the operation were legally residing in Cyprus but were working in breach of employment regulations, including students and asylum seekers.
Following amendments to immigration legislation, the inspection service plans to introduce administrative fines for illegally employed persons in the coming months, alongside further penalties for employers, he said.
Inspection figures
The ministry said the rate of undeclared work fell from about 15 per cent in 2017 to 5 per cent in 2025.
Apostolou said the reduction had reached the authorities’ target, but illegal employment remained an ongoing concern.
The inspection service carried out about 8,000 inspections in 2025 and identified around 19,000 workers during workplace visits.
