Targeted inspections will be conducted in July throughout Cyprus at photographers’ studios, flower shops, wedding and baptism services by the Inspection Service of the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance.

Speaking on the program “Alpha News,” , Antis Apostolou, Head of the Inspection Service, explained that, in addition to daily inspections, targeted campaigns are conducted each month in specific sectors.

According to his statements, the purpose of the inspections is to inform both employees and employers that the service will be taking more targeted measures. He noted that during the inspections, employees are asked about their terms of employment to verify whether they comply with relevant laws.

This month’s inspections will be conducted island-wide at photography studios, flower shops, and wedding and baptism services. 

He noted, among other things, that inspectors visit venues hosting events a few hours before guests arrive. Then, individuals who are there to work are asked to complete a specific questionnaire. He emphasized that employees continue their work as usual until the questionnaire is completed. According to Mr. Apostolou, the inspectors work in teams of three or four people, which speeds up the process.

“The process is much faster precisely to avoid any delays.”

Mr. Apostolou noted that inspections can be conducted at three different establishments each weekend.

The biggest problem, he says, is undeclared work. If, during an inspection, it is determined that an undeclared worker is directly linked to an employer, a violation notice is issued and a fine is imposed on the employer. The fine amounts to €1,000 for each employee for the month in which the violation was detected and increases by €500 for each of the preceding 6 months. 

In the case of a self-employed individual who has not registered with the Social Security Fund, they will be fined €1,400 as an undeclared self-employed person.

The agency, as he noted, conducts around 8,000 employer inspections per year, and during these inspections, it encounters approximately 19,000 workers. 

He noted that in recent years there has been a decline in undeclared work. In 2017, the rate of undeclared work was close to 15%, while figures for 2025 and the first five months of 2026 show that undeclared work is below 6%.

He emphasized that there should be no complacency, as there has recently been an increase in illegal employment, specifically involving individuals from third countries. The highest rates are in the service sector, where they approach 25%.