The Social Welfare Services (SWS) are quite literally throwing 20 victims of labour exploitation onto the streets during a heatwave, with temperatures reaching 43°C, leaving them without access to shelter, food or medical care (see the SWS letter dated 21 July 2026).
These 20 individuals are part of a group of 50 migrants from India who were deceived by a company, a private employment agency and their associates in India and Limassol into paying between €8,000 and €10,000. They borrowed these sums under extremely harsh terms after receiving a written commitment that they would be employed by the company as couriers/delivery drivers, earning a gross monthly salary of €1,200.
When they arrived in Cyprus, already trapped by this substantial debt, they discovered that they had been deceived regarding their wages, working conditions, accommodation and living conditions more generally.
The migrants reported both the company and the private employment agency to the competent Cypriot authorities and to their country’s embassy. Despite the fact that all 50 had been deceived and trafficked by the same traffickers under the same circumstances, only 10 have been officially recognised as victims of human trafficking. The others were referred to the Department of Labour Relations of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance to lodge a complaint, without any explanation being provided for this differential treatment.
Following our complaint, the authorities initially accommodated them—unlawfully—at the refugee reception centre in Kofinou and subsequently in private accommodation in Limassol and Nicosia, the cost of which was covered by the Social Welfare Services.
As we have been informed, following intervention by the PEO trade union, the competent department of the Ministry of Labour has begun the process of identifying eligible employers so that these individuals can be employed by new eligible employers as soon as possible.
In a letter dated 21 July, the Social Welfare Services informed the victims that they would have to vacate, within two days, the accommodation provided to them with the financial support of the SWS. It should be noted that, until new eligible employers are found, these individuals are not permitted to work. Consequently, they have neither the means to rent accommodation nor the resources to meet their basic needs, including food.
KISA condemns the stance of the Social Welfare Services as tantamount to inhuman and degrading treatment and calls for:
- The Social Welfare Services to continue providing financial support to these individuals until the process of securing employment with new eligible employers has been completed.
- The Department of Labour of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance to proceed immediately with the process of identifying and placing these individuals with new eligible employers.
- The Social Welfare Services to adopt a policy, or appropriate legislation, concerning the support of vulnerable groups who do not fall within the scope of any existing legislation that would otherwise entitle them to state assistance, based on respect for their human rights.
KISA Steering Committee
