Filenews 8 August 2025 - Charalambos Zakos
The problem with the shortage of personnel in the construction industry has been known for some time. A problem that was particularly exacerbated during the pandemic period, since several foreign workers returned to their homeland and never returned.
Today, the construction industry is facing a serious problem. In fact, according to estimates by industry professionals, staff shortages exceed 2,000. Something that has been ringing a bell for a long time in the construction industry, with those involved asking the state to provide facilities in order to find labour from abroad.
On this issue, however, there is resistance and different approaches. On the part of the trade unions, it is important to ensure the same working conditions and wages for all workers, regardless of whether they are personnel from abroad or from home. On the other hand, employers believe that they can find cheaper labour from abroad, while maintaining wages, if not at the same levels, at least to a satisfactory degree.
"F", investigating the issue, identified the differences that seem to arise in wages. According to the data collected by "F", at the moment in Cyprus the gross salary of a craftsman, along with other benefits, is €2,700 per month. On the other hand, the remuneration for foreign workers for the same tasks is €2,100. As we wrote above, the main disagreement lies in this difference, with the trade unions demanding equal pay for all.
Foreign investors are a headache
Apart from the lack of staff, Cypriot contractors have another headache to face. According to people in the industry who spoke to "F", there has recently been an increase in foreign investors and entrepreneurs who want to be active in the land development sector.
The issue that arises is that these entrepreneurs do not want to invest in existing companies in the construction sector and for this reason they set up their own companies.
As reported in "F", this practice is something that is of particular concern to Cypriot contractors, who have been particularly alarmed by the mass descent of foreign entrepreneurs. In fact, some of them expressed the opinion that the state must find a way to regulate the issue that arises.
As a person familiar with what is developing told "F", the state should reflect on the massive descent of foreign investors to Cyprus in the land development sector, commenting at the same time positively that steps are being taken by the government, which recognized the problem.
It is no secret, after all, that only recently a great debate has been opened about the activity of foreign companies on the island and the intention of the state to control the issue.
Specifically, at the beginning of July 2025, the Council of Ministers decided to promote a bill for the implementation of a National Foreign Direct Investment Control Mechanism. The purpose, as we had written in our previous report, is the strict "filtering" of foreign entrepreneurs who want to invest in Cyprus in order to protect national security and public order.
