On July 20, 2026, the trade unions OYXEKA-SEK and SYXKA-PEO sent formal letters to the Cypriot Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Marinos Moustiouttas, along with officials from the Department of Labour Relations and the Department of Labour. The unions expressed grave concerns regarding the rising number of temporary, or "rented," workers employed within the hotel and recreation industries.

The unions contend that this practice violates the 2012 Law on Employment through Temporary Employment Agencies (Law 174(I)/2012) and undermines existing collective agreements and labor regulations. Furthermore, they reported that these hiring practices exacerbate existing challenges linked to the recent framework for employing third-country nationals. In addition to demanding stricter oversight, the unions requested that employment contracts for workers from third countries be made publicly available to ensure transparency.

This follows previous directives, including a letter issued by the Director of the Department of Labour Relations on June 17, 2025, which had already reminded the Hotel Associations of their legal obligations. The unions are now calling for immediate intervention to address these ongoing labor violations and to stabilize the employment conditions in the hospitality sector.