Career Advice
Your rights at work in Cyprus 2026: contracts, probation, notice and dismissal
A plain-English guide to Cyprus employment law for employees — what your contract must include, how probation and notice periods work, your leave entitlements, and what counts as unfair dismissal.
Whether you are local or relocating, knowing your basic rights as an employee in Cyprus protects you — and most newcomers have no idea what they are entitled to. This is a plain-English overview of the essentials in 2026.
This is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact the Department of Labour Relations or a Cyprus employment lawyer. Where exact figures matter, confirm the current thresholds, as rates are reviewed periodically.
Your written contract
Your employer must give you written terms of employment covering the essentials — job title and duties, pay, working hours, leave, notice period and place of work — within a short period of starting. Insist on it. A clear written contract is your main protection if anything goes wrong, and a reputable Cyprus employer provides one as a matter of course.
Probation period
Probation in Cyprus is typically up to six months, and can be extended by written agreement up to a maximum of two years (104 weeks). During roughly the first 26 weeks of employment, you are generally not yet covered by unfair-dismissal protection, which is why the early period matters. After that, full protections apply.
Working hours, overtime and rest
The standard working week is up to 48 hours including overtime, averaged over a reference period, with a minimum daily rest and at least one rest day per week. Specific sectors have their own collective agreements that can be more generous. Overtime treatment depends on your contract and any applicable agreement.
Annual leave and public holidays
Employees are entitled to a statutory minimum of paid annual leave — broadly 20 days for a five-day week (24 days for a six-day week). Many employers offer more. This is separate from Cyprus' public holidays. For the full breakdown, see our guide to Cyprus public holidays and annual leave.
Sick leave and GeSY
You contribute to GeSY, the national health system, through payroll (currently 2.65% of earnings for employees), which gives you access to public healthcare. Sick-pay entitlement is provided through Social Insurance after a short waiting period, subject to contribution conditions, and many employers top this up.
The 13th salary
The 13th salary — an extra month's pay, usually in December — is widespread in Cyprus but is a matter of contract or custom rather than a blanket legal right. Confirm whether it is included in your offer and whether your quoted salary is over 12 or 13 months. See our dedicated guide to the 13th salary in Cyprus.
Notice periods
Once you have at least 26 weeks of continuous employment, the law sets minimum notice periods for termination by the employer, based on length of service:
| Continuous employment | Minimum notice |
|---|---|
| 26 weeks – 1 year | 1 week |
| 1 – 2 years | 2 weeks |
| 2 – 3 years | 4 weeks |
| 3 – 4 years | 5 weeks |
| 4 – 5 years | 6 weeks |
| 5 – 6 years | 7 weeks |
| Over 6 years | 8 weeks |
Your contract may provide for longer notice. Notice required from you (the employee) when resigning is usually set by your contract.
Redundancy and the Redundancy Fund
If you are made genuinely redundant after at least 104 weeks of continuous employment, you may be entitled to a redundancy payment from the Redundancy Fund, calculated on your length of service and earnings. Redundancy must be a genuine reduction in the need for the role, not a disguised dismissal.
Unfair dismissal
After the qualifying period, you are protected against unfair dismissal. Dismissal must be for a valid reason — such as genuine redundancy, misconduct, or incapacity — and follow a fair process. Dismissal for discriminatory reasons, for pregnancy, or for exercising your legal rights is unlawful. If you believe you were dismissed unfairly, you can bring a claim to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal, generally within strict time limits.
Where to get help
The Department of Labour Relations mediates workplace disputes and is the first port of call. Trade unions are active in many Cyprus sectors and can represent members. For complex cases — especially unfair dismissal or discrimination — consult a Cyprus employment lawyer early, because tribunal claims have deadlines.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is a written employment contract required in Cyprus?
Your employer must provide written terms of employment covering the essentials — job title, pay, hours, leave, notice and place of work — shortly after you start. A clear written contract is your main protection if a dispute arises, and any reputable Cyprus employer provides one as standard. Insist on it before starting work.
How long is the probation period in Cyprus?
Probation is typically up to six months and can be extended by written agreement to a maximum of two years (104 weeks). During roughly the first 26 weeks of employment you are generally not yet covered by unfair-dismissal protection, so the early period carries more risk; full protections apply afterwards.
What is the minimum notice period in Cyprus?
Once you have at least 26 weeks of continuous service, the law sets minimum notice for employer termination by length of service: one week (26 weeks to one year), rising to four weeks at two to three years, and up to eight weeks after six years. Your contract may provide longer notice.
How much annual leave am I entitled to in Cyprus?
The statutory minimum is broadly 20 days of paid annual leave for a five-day working week (24 days for a six-day week), and many employers offer more. This is separate from Cyprus' public holidays. Your exact entitlement should be stated in your written contract.
What counts as unfair dismissal in Cyprus?
After the qualifying period, dismissal must be for a valid reason — genuine redundancy, misconduct or incapacity — and follow a fair process. Dismissal for discriminatory reasons, pregnancy, or for exercising your legal rights is unlawful. If you believe you were dismissed unfairly, you can claim at the Industrial Disputes Tribunal, usually within strict time limits.
Am I entitled to redundancy pay in Cyprus?
If you are genuinely made redundant after at least 104 weeks of continuous employment, you may be entitled to a payment from the Redundancy Fund, calculated on your length of service and earnings. The redundancy must be a real reduction in the need for the role, not a disguised dismissal — otherwise it may amount to unfair dismissal.
About the author
Barry Davies
Founder, Cyprus Job Finder
Barry Davies is the founder of Cyprus Job Finder and the wider Jobs.com.cy network. He has spent over a decade tracking the Cyprus employment market first-hand — from Limassol's forex and technology sector to seasonal tourism hiring across the island. Every guide here is written from the network's live listing data and on-the-ground editorial research, not recycled from elsewhere.
Keep reading
Related articles
Career Advice
Cyprus public holidays and annual leave 2026: full guide for employees
All 15 public holidays in Cyprus 2026, statutory annual leave entitlements, sick leave rules, religious leave, and what happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend — the complete picture for employees.
8 min read
Career Advice
13th salary in Cyprus 2026: who gets it, how it's calculated, when it's paid
The 13th salary is one of the most-asked questions for anyone starting work in Cyprus. Here is the 2026 reality — when it is contractual versus voluntary, how it is calculated, the tax treatment, and how it interacts with bonuses and the GeSY / social-insurance cap.
7 min read
Relocation
Cyprus tax for employees 2026: non-dom, the 50% rule and what your take-home actually is
A plain-English guide to Cyprus income tax in 2026 — personal allowance, brackets, employee social insurance, GeSY, the non-dom regime and the 50% high-earner exemption — with worked examples at €30k, €60k and €120k.
9 min read