No Work Permit, No work! say’s
All Stars Agency Promotions
Legal Performing Artists Hold Meeting with
TRNC Labour Authorities
By Ken Hibbitt
Manager of All Stars Agency Promotions (ASAP)
Over the past weeks there have been conflicting comments made in the Stephen Day column in Cyprus Today about 
non legal entertainers being able to perform publicly at bars and restaurants etc in the TRNC and we have had submitted and had published a statement which sets out the correct facts. To read this statement, please click here
So important is this information that we have asked cyprusscene.com to publish the following advice and statement for other readers and a wider audience to view. The readers of this article can read a copy of an article published in Cyprus Star which confirms the TRNC Ministry of Labour position on this important subject on 5th October 2012 click here.
Readers are also asked to refer to the North Cyprus British Residents’ Society web page to see what they say about work permits by clicking here.
Legal Performing Artists Hold Meeting with TRNC Labour Authorities
On Tuesday 5th May representative artists along with All Stars Agency Promotions management visited the authorities to present their case with regard to illegal artists operating in the TRNC.
Since the TRNC Government introduced a new law enabling artists to register and to work legally via an accredited Artist Agency, many artists have taken advantage of this and have registered through the All Stars Agency Promotions (ASAP).
They expressed concern that whilst they were acting within the law and paying for work permits, taxes, sigorta, VAT etc illegal artists were flagrantly flaunting the law and in many cases were coming to TRNC from abroad, including the South side of the Island, draining the TRNC economy without paying their legal dues, and that as legal artists they expected action from the Authorities to protect them from this illegal activity.
Some artists pointed out that they had specifically come to the TRNC because of the availability of work permits, and thus being able to work without fear of arrest, fines and possible deportation. Moving to the TRNC has obviously incurred domestic upheaval and cost to these families.
They pointed out that if the authorities did not take action against illegal artists and the venues using them, then they were signaling to the market that this illegal activity was acceptable.
Given that Illegal artists, and the venues using them, each stand to be fined 8,500TL for each breach of the law, then both parties are taking a huge risk.
Cases have been quoted of non TRNC artists claiming to be legal because they pay tax. This is not possible. The law is clear in that a non TRNC artist can only perform with a valid work permit. If it were the case that an individual chose to pay tax, this would not negate the need for a work permit.
Other cases were quoted of artists claiming to be TRNC kimlik holders, and so entitled to work. However in some cases the kimlik has not been produced when requested. The authorities pointed out that even a T.C. national is working illegally unless they are registered, and paying tax and national insurance, and that they would be checking this when visiting venues.
Venues should protect themselves from unscrupulous illegal artists by asking to see (and preferably take a copy of) the foreign national work permit which will be in their passport, or a kimlik with their photograph.
The artists pointed out that it was particularly annoying to find media coverage and articles given over to illegal artists, often precluding coverage of legal artists, and that this was further evidence of how little regard illegal artists and venues were paying to the law.
Editor’s Note
“The opinions, advice or proposals within the article are purely those of the author and do not, in any way, represent those of Cyprusscene.com”
While I have every sympathy for legal entertainers trying to protect their interests they are fighting an uphill battle. I would suggest that the majority of places they operate in are only in existence because of the number of illegal workers.eg bar staff, kitchen staff etc.
The few entertainers pale into insignificance compared to all the illegal staff in the hotel & catering and property sectors so this high profile defence of the entertainment sector, IMO of course, just allows the system to gloss over the failures of the rest of the black economy.
David, as one of the legal entertainers who seriously believes in taking responsibility for contributing to the community, society and economy within which I live and that provides me with my chosen lifestyle, I am very pleased to hear that you have sympathy for our cause. And whilst you may be correct to some degree regarding your statement about the use of illegal workers in the sectors you mention, I hope you are in no way advocating that 2 wrongs make a right. You are not seriously suggesting that we should just allow the illegal situation to continue across the board unchecked and thus allow anarchy to rule ? Perhaps you have a better answer to tackle the failures of the system and deal with the black economy ? ASAP are doing their little bit within their sphere of influence and should be applauded for that !
The problem is that North Cyprus is a corrupt system, just look at so called night clubs, human traffiking and the casinos all accepted by the system but treated with disdain in the civilized world !! We are trying to fight through our own issues, 9 years so far, but until the country comes into the 20th century at least I fear you are fighting a battle that may be won but the war will take a lot longer.