Amnesty to register 4,000 illegal workers

Minister of Labour and Social Security Sadık Gardiyanoğlu recently announced an immigration amnesty, set to begin on August 5 and last for 45 days, aimed at registering unregistered workers in the TRNC. This amnesty is expected to benefit around 4,000 individuals, with a significant portion being university students.

Gardiyanoğlu pointed out that a staggering 70% of these unregistered workers are African students who had initially come to the TRNC for educational purposes but ended up working informally, often in the construction sector.

The amnesty aims to address the issue of undocumented labour by offering a pathway to legal status, provided individuals register, pay the minimum wage, and enter the workforce formally. This move is intended to provide more sustainable solutions rather than temporary fixes. Following the amnesty, the ministry plans to enhance inspections and collect data to understand the initial reasons behind these individuals’ presence in the TRNC, whether for education, tourism, or work. This information will aid in creating better employer registries and inform the Ministry of National Education about potential issues with specific universities.

Parallel to this, there’s a growing concern about the exploitation of third-world students in the TRNC. According to Educational Scientist Salih Sarpten, the TRNC’s universities have become a magnet for students from countries like those in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Near East. These universities, eager to collect tuition fees, often overlook international educational standards. This lax admission policy has led to an influx of students who, in many cases, end up being exploited by student brokers. These agencies lure students with promises of education while ignoring their actual educational needs and aspirations.

Sarpten criticised this practice, arguing that the TRNC’s universities are increasingly treating students as mere sources of revenue rather than focusing on academic excellence. He emphasised that this approach not only undermines the quality of education but also contributes to a cycle of exploitation where students are misled and subsequently left to navigate a difficult labour market, often as undocumented workers.

In summary, the TRNC faces dual challenges: addressing the legal status of unregistered workers, many of whom are former students, and tackling the exploitative practices surrounding student admissions. The upcoming amnesty represents a significant step toward resolving labor issues but must be complemented by reforms in the educational sector to prevent further exploitation and ensure that students receive the quality education they are promised.

Yeniduzen, LGC News