TRNC Parliament Approves Three Bills, Including Immigration Amnesty

At an extraordinary session held yesterday, the General Assembly of the TRNC Parliament approved three bills, including one on immigration amnesty.

Amendments to the bills on home ownership and on foreigners and immigration were passed by a majority vote, while the bill on medals and orders was approved unanimously.

Regarding the amendments to the home ownership bill, Finance Minister Özdemir Berova stated that the government’s sole aim is to address the difficulties young Turkish Cypriots face in owning homes. With these amendments, the government seeks to "eliminate the shortage and provide youth with access to social housing."

According to the minister, social housing will be constructed so that young people living in the TRNC who do not own homes can become homeowners. "With the adoption of these amendments, an important step has been taken in this direction." The bill was passed by a majority vote: 26 votes in favor and 5 against.

The most contentious issue was the amendments to the bill on foreigners and immigration. According to one of the deputies, although many people in the country eagerly awaited this bill, the adoption of the amnesty "undermines the sense of justice for those who properly register." Moreover, the exact number of people who have become illegal immigrants remains unknown.

Citing some figures regarding the number of people involved in illegal activities, the assembly emphasized that the number of illegal workers could reach 100,000, though the exact number of those in the country is still unknown.

Another deputy stated that the proposed bill "encourages illegal immigration" because the parliament grants amnesty every year, and the government does not conduct checks. "The amnesty no longer deserves trust, and the economic and social consequences will be devastating as long as it continues."

At the same time, another member of parliament reminded that in the last 17 years, 11 amnesties have been adopted in the country, and the previous amnesty law was passed unanimously. The new bill includes provisions stating that those who could have benefited from previous amnesties will not be able to do so again.

Ultimately, the bill was passed by the General Assembly of Parliament by a majority vote. According to Labor and Social Security Minister Sadık Gardiyanoğlu, the "labor amnesty" will come into effect on August 5, 2024.

"With the introduction of the law, registration will be carried out through employers. The amnesty will provide data on which companies the applicants came from and how they became illegal," the minister said.

Previously, the TRNC government submitted to the Republic's Assembly a bill providing comprehensive immigration amnesty for foreigners staying in the country without permission. The new regulation aims to ease the situation for foreign nationals in difficulty on the island.