Cyprus Employment Law 2026: Annual Leave, Notice Periods and Maternity Rights

Cyprus employment law establishes statutory minimum rights for all employees working in Cyprus under a contract of employment. The core framework is set by the Termination of Employment Law (24/1967) and the Annual Holidays with Pay Law, supplemented by Social Insurance legislation governing benefits such as maternity and sick leave.

Annual Leave Entitlement

Employees in Cyprus are entitled to paid annual leave as follows:

• 5-day week employees: 20 working days of paid leave per year.
• 6-day week employees: 24 working days of paid leave per year.

Annual leave entitlement begins accruing after 48 weeks of continuous employment with the same employer. Leave may be accumulated for up to two years by mutual agreement between employer and employee.

Public Holidays

Cyprus has 12 official paid public holidays per year, in addition to annual leave. Employees who are required to work on a public holiday are entitled to an additional day off or premium pay as agreed in the employment contract.

Notice Periods for Termination

Minimum statutory notice periods for employer-initiated termination under the Termination of Employment Law are based on continuous service:

• Under 26 weeks of service: no statutory notice required.
• 26-51 weeks: 1 week.
• 52-103 weeks: 2 weeks.
• 104-155 weeks: 4 weeks.

• 156-207 weeks: 5 weeks.
• 208-259 weeks: 6 weeks.
• 260-311 weeks: 7 weeks.
• 312 weeks or more (6+ years): 8 weeks.

Payment in lieu of notice is permitted. An employee is also entitled to redundancy payment if dismissed after 26 or more weeks of continuous service (calculated based on length of service and final salary).

Maternity Leave

Maternity leave in Cyprus is paid through the Social Insurance Fund, not by the employer directly:

• First and second child: 22 consecutive weeks of maternity leave.
• Third child and beyond: 26 consecutive weeks.

The Social Insurance maternity benefit is paid at 72% of the insured salary, increasing to 80% with one dependent child, 90% with two, and 100% with three or more. A minimum of 26 contribution weeks is required to qualify.

Working Hours and Overtime

The standard maximum working week in Cyprus is 48 hours including overtime, in line with the EU Working Time Directive. The normal working week for most employees is 38-40 hours. Overtime is typically compensated at 1.5x the standard hourly rate unless a different arrangement is agreed in writing.

Probation Period

Employment contracts in Cyprus may include a probation period, typically 6 months, during which either party may terminate without notice or redundancy payment. The probation period must be agreed in writing in the employment contract.

Sources: Cyprus Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance - Employment Guide. Mondaq/Harris Kyriakides Law - Termination of Employment in Cyprus (2026). CXC Global Hiring Guide Cyprus.