Managing employee leave in Cyprus requires a clear understanding of local labor laws and regulations. Employers are legally obligated to provide various types of leave, including annual vacation, public holidays, sick leave, and parental leave, ensuring compliance with national standards. These entitlements are designed to protect employee well-being and provide necessary time off for rest, illness, and family responsibilities.
Navigating these requirements is crucial for businesses operating in Cyprus to maintain legal compliance and foster positive employee relations. Understanding the specific rules for each type of leave, including eligibility, duration, and compensation, is essential for effective workforce management.
Annual Vacation Leave
Employees in Cyprus are entitled to a minimum amount of paid annual leave. The specific entitlement depends on the standard work week.
- Employees working a five-day week are entitled to a minimum of 20 working days of paid annual leave per year.
- Employees working a six-day week are entitled to a minimum of 24 working days of paid annual leave per year.
This leave accrues over the period of employment. Employees are generally required to take their annual leave within the calendar year it is accrued, although exceptions or carry-over provisions may be permitted under specific circumstances or collective agreements. The timing of leave is typically agreed upon between the employer and employee, taking into account business needs.
Public Holidays
Cyprus observes several public holidays throughout the year. Employees are generally entitled to a paid day off on these holidays. If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they are typically entitled to premium pay or compensatory time off, as stipulated by law or collective agreements.
Here are the anticipated public holidays for 2025 in Cyprus:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day |
| January 6 | Epiphany |
| February 24 | Green Monday (Clean Monday) |
| March 25 | Greek National Day |
| April 1 | Cyprus National Day |
| April 18 | Good Friday (Orthodox) |
| April 20 | Easter Sunday (Orthodox) |
| April 21 | Easter Monday (Orthodox) |
| May 1 | Labour Day |
| June 8 | Pentecost Sunday (Orthodox) |
| June 9 | Pentecost Monday (Orthodox) |
| August 15 | Assumption Day |
| October 1 | Cyprus Independence Day |
| October 28 | Ochi Day |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
| December 26 | Boxing Day |
Note: Dates for Orthodox Easter and related holidays vary each year.
Sick Leave
Employees in Cyprus are entitled to paid sick leave when they are unable to work due to illness or injury. Entitlement to sick pay is linked to contributions to the Social Insurance Fund.
- Employees must obtain a medical certificate from a registered doctor to qualify for sick leave benefits.
- Sick pay is provided by the Social Insurance Fund, not directly by the employer, after a waiting period.
- The waiting period is typically the first three days of absence.
- Benefits are payable from the fourth day of absence, provided the employee meets the contribution requirements.
- The duration for which sick pay is granted depends on the employee's social insurance contributions and the nature of the illness, but can extend for a significant period.
Employers are not legally required to pay employees during sick leave, as this is covered by the Social Insurance Fund. However, some employers may choose to supplement the social insurance benefit or pay for the initial waiting period as part of their employment terms or collective agreements.
Parental Leave
Cyprus law provides for various types of leave related to parenting, including maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
Maternity Leave
- Entitlement: Female employees are entitled to 18 consecutive weeks of maternity leave.
- Timing: This leave typically starts two weeks before the expected week of childbirth or later, at the employee's discretion, and continues for the remainder of the period after childbirth.
- Pay: Maternity allowance is paid by the Social Insurance Fund, provided the employee meets the contribution requirements. The allowance is a percentage of the employee's insurable earnings.
Paternity Leave
- Entitlement: Male employees are entitled to two consecutive weeks of paternity leave.
- Timing: This leave must be taken within the period starting from the week of childbirth and ending two weeks after the birth.
- Pay: Paternity allowance is paid by the Social Insurance Fund, provided the employee meets the contribution requirements.
Adoption Leave
- Entitlement: Employees (one parent in the case of a couple) who adopt a child under the age of 12 are entitled to 18 consecutive weeks of adoption leave.
- Timing: The leave starts from the week the child is placed with the employee.
- Pay: Adoption allowance is paid by the Social Insurance Fund, provided the employee meets the contribution requirements.
Parental Leave for Childcare
In addition to the above, employees are entitled to unpaid parental leave for childcare purposes.
- Entitlement: Each parent is entitled to parental leave until the child reaches the age of eight.
- Duration: The total duration of this leave for each parent is 13 weeks.
- Nature: This leave is unpaid and can be taken flexibly, subject to agreement with the employer and specific legal conditions.
Other Types of Leave
Cyprus law and common practice recognize other types of leave, although entitlements may vary depending on specific circumstances, collective agreements, or company policy.
- Bereavement Leave: While not explicitly mandated by statutory law for a specific duration, employers typically grant a short period of paid or unpaid leave in the event of the death of a close family member.
- Study Leave: Employees may be granted leave for educational purposes, often unpaid, depending on company policy or collective agreements.
- Sabbatical Leave: Longer periods of leave for personal or professional development may be granted, typically unpaid and at the employer's discretion.
- Leave for Force Majeure: Employees are entitled to a limited amount of unpaid leave in cases of urgent family reasons due to illness or accident, where the immediate presence of the employee is indispensable.
