Minister of Labour and Social Security, Sadık Gardiyanoğlu, recently revealed an immigration amnesty in the TRNC, starting August 5 and lasting for 45 days, aimed at registering unregistered workers. This initiative is projected to benefit approximately 4,000 individuals, with many being university students, as reported by Yeniduzen.
Gardiyanoğlu highlighted that a notable 70% of these unregistered workers are African students who originally came to the TRNC for education but ended up working informally, predominantly in construction.
The amnesty’s goal is to tackle the issue of undocumented labour by providing a pathway to legal status for those who register, pay the minimum wage, and formally join the workforce. This strategy seeks to offer long-term solutions rather than temporary measures. Post-amnesty, the ministry plans to ramp up inspections and gather data to understand why these individuals are in the TRNC—be it for education, tourism, or work. This data will help create better employer registries and inform the Ministry of National Education about potential problems with certain universities.
Additionally, concerns about the exploitation of third-world students in the TRNC are growing. Educational Scientist Salih Sarpten notes that universities in the TRNC have become attractive to students from Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Near East. These institutions, focused on collecting tuition fees, often neglect international educational standards. This relaxed admission policy has resulted in an influx of students who are frequently exploited by student brokers. These brokers entice students with promises of education but disregard their actual educational needs and goals.
Sarpten criticised this practice, arguing that universities in the TRNC increasingly view students as revenue sources rather than prioritising academic excellence. He stressed that this approach not only diminishes education quality but also perpetuates a cycle of exploitation where students are misled and then left to navigate a challenging labour market as undocumented workers.
Thus, the TRNC faces two primary challenges: legalising the status of many unregistered workers, primarily former students, and addressing exploitative student admission practices. The forthcoming amnesty is a crucial step toward resolving labour issues but must be paired with educational sector reforms to prevent further exploitation and ensure that students receive the quality education they were promised.
