Visits suspended at Northern Cyprus's only prison due to unpaid overtime and staff shortages

Visits at the Central Prison of Nicosia (Kuzey Kıbrıs Merkezi Cezaevi) have been suspended due to unpaid overtime.

Visitation rights were halted as a result of a crisis triggered by unpaid overtime. Finance Minister Özdemir Berova decided not to pay overtime at the 100 percent rate to personnel who began working before the Immigration Law and reduced the rate to 80 percent.

Meanwhile, staff hired after the Immigration Law was enacted were already receiving overtime pay at a 50 percent rate.

It was reported that the decision to suspend visits was made at the request of the staff. The prison administration also supports the decision made by the personnel.

A total of 37 guards are on duty at the prison. However, due to leave and shift changes, the actual number of staff on duty is reduced to 30. At the same time, the prison holds about 820 inmates.