Commission urges Cyprus to act on sanctioning employers of irregular migrants

The Commission decided to advance infringement proceedings and issue a reasoned opinion requesting Cyprus to bring its law into line with the Employer Sanctions Directive, which should have been implemented by 20 July 2011.

The Directive targets employers who take advantage of irregular migrants` precarious position and employ them for what are usually low-paid jobs with poor working conditions. It also strengthens the rights of the individual migrant by requiring employers to pay outstanding wages.

The Directive is a key element in EU efforts against irregular migration. It prohibits the employment of irregular migrants from outside the EU, by punishing employers through fines or even criminal sanctions in the most serious cases.