Ayia Napa is a popular holiday place in Cyprus. It is known for busy nights and nice beaches. Now, police are investigating serious claims. Young British workers say they were exploited and harassed. A new documentary started this police investigation. It showed bad treatment of workers.
The documentary is called "Untold: Undercover Working Holidays." It showed that working holidays are not always good. A journalist worked undercover. She recorded things that showed workers were not treated well. Some managers asked for sexual favours for jobs. One manager offered a job for oral sex. Another employer allegedly touched female workers inappropriately.
Workers also faced bad living conditions. Their rooms were small and dirty. They did not have enough water. The rooms had mould and insects. The rent was very high. This left workers with no money. They were also encouraged to work without the right permits. Some workers were asked to sell illegal gas.
Cyprus Police are looking at the evidence. A police spokesperson said they saw the documentary. They decided to investigate. They want to see if any crimes happened. The investigation could involve UK agencies. These agencies sell work and housing packages.
Similar problems have happened in other places. Places like Zante and Magaluf have seen similar issues. An expert said that housing is often linked to work. However, the housing is usually not good. He also said British people need a special visa to work in the EU. This is often not explained by companies.
The Mayor of Ayia Napa wants to fix this. He will talk to the government. He wants to find bad businesses. He also wants to improve worker housing. The investigation will be important. It could change how work holiday schemes are managed.