The TRNC Parliament has passed three bills, including one on immigration amnesty

The TRNC Parliament has passed three bills, including one on immigration amnesty, during an extraordinary session yesterday.

The amendments to the home ownership and foreigners and immigration bills were approved by a majority, while the medals and orders bill received unanimous support.

Finance Minister Özdemir Berova explained that the home ownership bill amendments aim to alleviate the challenges young Turkish Cypriots encounter in acquiring homes, intending to "alleviate the shortage and provide access to social housing for the youth."

He further stated that the construction of social housing will enable young TRNC residents without homes to become homeowners, marking a significant step forward with the bill's passage by a vote of 26 to 5.

The amendments to the foreigners and immigration bill sparked debate, with a deputy noting that while the bill was highly anticipated, its passage "compromises the sense of justice for those who have registered correctly," and the precise number of illegal immigrants is still uncertain.

The assembly highlighted concerns about illegal labor, estimating the number of illegal workers at potentially 100,000, despite the lack of concrete figures on those present in the country.

Another deputy criticized the bill for "promoting illegal immigration," pointing out the annual amnesty granted by the parliament and the government's failure to perform checks, warning that the continued amnesty could lead to dire economic and social repercussions.

Simultaneously, a parliament member highlighted that over the past 17 years, the country has enacted 11 amnesties, with the last amnesty law being approved unanimously. The new bill stipulates that individuals who have benefited from previous amnesties are ineligible for this one.

The General Assembly of Parliament passed the bill with a majority vote. Labor and Social Security Minister Sadık Gardiyanoğlu announced that the "labor amnesty" will take effect on August 5, 2024.

"The law will mandate registration through employers. It will provide insights into the companies from which the applicants originated and their paths to illegality," stated the minister.

The TRNC government had previously presented a bill to the Republic's Assembly, offering a comprehensive immigration amnesty to unauthorized foreigners in the country. This new measure is designed to alleviate the challenges faced by foreign nationals on the island.