Unions protest labor exploitation in Cypriot hotel industry

Cypriot trade unions SEK and PEO have raised significant concerns regarding the widespread practice of hiring hotel staff through third-party labor agencies. During a conference held on July 30, 2026, in Nicosia, union representatives characterized this practice as a major loophole used by some hoteliers to bypass labor laws and collective agreements. The unions report that foreign workers from third countries, originally permitted to work in building and industrial cleaning services, are being illegally deployed to fill various roles in hotels, ranging from dishwashers and maids to waiters and chefs.

Union officials, including Michalis Fragkou of SEK and Neofytos Timinis of PEO, argue that this exploitation creates severe market distortions and undermines the rights of hotel staff. The organizations have already met with the Department of Labor and submitted a formal letter to the Department of Labor Relations requesting immediate intervention. They are calling for stricter inspections of hotels and employment agencies. The unions have warned that they are prepared to take industrial action if the government does not take substantive measures to resolve the issue by the end of September.