Employment & Labour Law

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Updated: April 23, 2025

At Ermina Papasolomou Co & LLC, we provide comprehensive advice and representation on all matters relating to employment and labour law in Cyprus. Whether you are an employer or employee, our team ensures your rights and obligations are fully protected under Cypriot law.
Cyprus employment law is based on a mix of common law, contract law, and statutory provisions. Every employment relationship is treated as a contract, supported by protective statutes such as the Termination of Employment Law of 1967 and laws governing maternity, health & safety, equal pay, and more.​

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🛡️Employee Rights Protected by Law

In addition to contractual rights, employees in Cyprus enjoy protection under several key statutes:

• Termination of Employment Law (1967) – safeguards against unfair dismissal

• Social Security Insurance Law (1967) – ensures benefits & contributions

• Annual Paid Leave Law (1967) – regulates paid holidays

• Protection of Maternity Law (1997) – maternity & paternity leave rights

• Health & Safety at Work Law (1996) – workplace safety standards

• Collective Redundancies Law (2001) – employee protections in mass layoffs

• Equal Treatment & Employment Law (2004) – protection against discrimination

• Minimum Salaries Law – guarantees a baseline salary in certain professions

👉 Employers must also inform employees of all employment terms within one month of starting work.

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📑 Employment Contracts in Cyprus

• Contracts may be written or oral.

• Employers must provide basic written terms within 30 days of employment.

• Statutory rights apply automatically, even if not written in the contract.

Key employee rights include:

🕒 Maximum 48-hour work week (including overtime)

👩‍👩‍👧 Maternity leave – at least 20 weeks

👨 Paternity leave – 2 weeks

⚖️ Equal pay for equal work

💶 Minimum wage guarantees in specific industries

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❌ Termination of Employment

The Termination of Employment Law (1967) is the cornerstone of Cyprus employment protection. It applies to all sectors (private and public).

📌 Notice Periods (based on length of service):

 

• 26–52 weeks → 1 week

• 52–104 weeks → 2 weeks

• 104–156 weeks → 4 weeks

• 156–208 weeks → 5 weeks

• 208–260 weeks → 6 weeks

• 260–311 weeks → 7 weeks

• 312+ weeks → 8 weeks

📌 Employers must provide valid reasons for dismissal. Unjustified dismissals give employees the right to claim unlawful termination compensation.

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✅ Lawful grounds for dismissal:

 

• Poor performance or misconduct

• Role redundancy (with proper criteria met)

• Expiry of a fixed-term contract

• Serious breach of employment terms

• Criminal offences or indecent behaviour

• Situations of force majeure (war, natural disasters, etc.)

📌 Employees cannot be dismissed for:

• Trade union membership

• Filing a complaint in good faith

• Pregnancy or maternity

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👶 Maternity, Paternity & Family Leave

 

• Maternity Leave: 22 weeks (protected by law)

• Paternity Leave: 2 weeks

• Parental Leave: Additional leave available for parents

• Employers are not required to pay wages during maternity leave, but benefits are covered by Social Security

• Pregnant employees are protected from dismissal

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💶 Minimum Wage in Cyprus

As of 2024, the following apply:

• €900 gross per month for the first 6 months

• €1,000 gross per month after 6 months in full-time employment

Certain professions (clerks, shop assistants, carers, nursing assistants, security guards, school assistants, cleaners) have regulated minimum wages set annually by the Ministerial Council.

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🚫 Discrimination in the Workplace

Cyprus employment law prohibits discrimination based on:

• Age, gender, race, ethnicity, language, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or sexual orientation

🔹 Workers are entitled to:

• Equal pay for equal work

• Protection against sexual harassment (investigated by the Ombudsman or Gender Equality Inspector)

• Fair treatment for part-time & fixed-term employees (same rights as full-time staff, proportionally applied)

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🔹 Employees can seek:

• Compensation

• Reinstatement

• Attorney’s fees

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🕒 Working Hours & Rest Periods

• Maximum 48 hours per week (including overtime)

• Typical: 8 hours per day

• Rest rights:

– 11 consecutive hours per 24-hour period

– 24 uninterrupted hours per week

– 2 consecutive rest days every 14 days

• Night work: max 8 hours per night (average over 1 month)