In Cyprus, the regulations regarding standard working hours establish a predictable workweek for employees. The standard workweek in Cyprus is capped at 48 hours. This translates to an expected 8-hour workday spread across five or six days.

There are exceptions to this rule. Collective bargaining agreements negotiated between employers and employee unions can establish different working hours, as long as they comply with the maximum limits set by law.

The Employment of Persons Law establishes the legal framework for standard working hours in Cyprus. Article 10 specifically outlines the maximum weekly working hours. Additionally, the Industrial Relations Code acknowledges the possibility of collective agreements influencing working hours. Article 17 highlights the right to negotiate terms and conditions of employment, including working hours.

In Cyprus, overtime work is regulated to ensure fair treatment of employees who exceed standard working hours.

There's no set daily limit on overtime work in Cyprus. However, the total combined working hours cannot exceed an average of 48 hours per week over a four-month period. This regulation ensures long working days are balanced with periods of shorter working hours within the four-month timeframe.

Overtime work must be compensated at a rate of at least 1.5 times the employee's regular hourly wage. In some instances, Cypriot law offers employees a choice regarding overtime compensation. With written agreement between the employer and employee, overtime can be compensated with:

• Time Off in Lieu: Employees can accrue compensatory time off for overtime worked. The amount of time off awarded is equal to the overtime hours worked, effectively offering a 1:1 ratio.
• Accrued Overtime Payment: Overtime pay can be accumulated throughout the year and paid out in a lump sum at the end of the year. This option requires a formal agreement between employer and employee.

The choice between cash payment and compensatory time off ultimately lies with the employee, ensuring they have control over their compensation preferences.

Employers are obligated to maintain detailed records of all overtime hours worked by their employees. These records should be readily available for inspection. Employers must also notify employees in advance about the need for overtime work, whenever possible.

Cypriot labor laws recognize the significance of rest periods and breaks throughout the workday to ensure worker well-being and enhance productivity. Here's an overview of these entitlements:

Daily Rest Period

Cypriot law stipulates a minimum daily rest period of 11 consecutive hours between the end of one workday and the beginning of the next. This provision ensures adequate rest time for employees to recuperate before resuming work.

Breaks During the Workday

The law mandates a minimum break of at least 30 minutes for employees working a continuous workday exceeding 6 hours. This break is not considered working time and does not count towards the employee's total working hours.

Employer Flexibility

The law provides some flexibility in scheduling this break. The employer and employee can agree on the specific timing within the workday, taking into account the nature of the work. For workdays shorter than 6 hours, there's no legal requirement for a mandated break. However, employers are encouraged to consider offering short breaks even for shorter workdays to foster employee well-being.

Additional Considerations

For employees working specifically in shops, the legislation offers a slightly different structure. They are entitled to one break of between 15 minutes and one hour, during a workday exceeding six hours. The specific duration within this range can be negotiated between the employer and employee.

The Employment of Persons Law establishes the legal framework for rest periods and breaks for workers in Cyprus. Articles 14 and 15 specifically outline the minimum requirements for daily rest and breaks during the workday.

Night shift and weekend work in Cyprus are governed by specific regulations due to their demanding nature.

Night shift work is defined as work performed between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Workers on night shifts are generally not permitted to work for more than an average of eight hours in any four-hour period during the night. This is to account for the increased strain of night work. Employers are responsible for the health and safety of night shift workers. This may involve conducting risk assessments to identify potential hazards associated with night work and designing workstations and tasks to minimize physical strain on night shift workers. Night shift work isn't explicitly restricted by Cypriot law, but the regulations regarding working hours and health and safety considerations aim to create a fair and safe work environment for night shift employees.

Weekend work, typically referring to work performed on Sundays and public holidays, is discouraged and should be minimized whenever possible. Employers generally require prior authorization from the Ministry of Labour before implementing weekend work. Exceptions exist for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances that threaten production or safety. Collective bargaining agreements between employers and employee unions can influence weekend work regulations within a company. These agreements may establish specific procedures or limitations for weekend work.

Weekend work requires the employee's prior consent, except in exceptional circumstances defined by law. Weekend work triggers mandatory overtime pay regulations. Employees working on weekends are entitled to a premium rate, typically set at 1.5 times the regular hourly wage. Employees have the right to refuse weekend work unless there are exceptional circumstances defined by law.