Labour Rights in English

An employment contract is an agreement between an employer and an employee whereby the latter offers their services to the employer in exchange for a salary. Any employment relationship between an employer and a worker must be documented through a contract.

The Department of Labour provides samples of contracts for third-country national (TCN) workers for specific sectors here: https://cutt.ly/EklBDSL. The approval of a work (temporary) permit is granted by the Civil Registry and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior.

The employment contract outlines both the rights and obligations of the employer and employee and determines the type of employment (permanent, temporary, internship). The probation period is mostly set at 26 weeks, however, it can be as long as 104 weeks. According to the law, both the employer and employee can terminate the contract without notice during the probation period. However, the probation period should be clearly stated on the contract if someone wishes to terminate the contract after the 26-week period. 

An employment contract needs to at least clarify the following information, according to minimum standards set by the European Union (EU):

• • the identity of the parties in the contract (employer, employee);
  • the place of work and the registered address of the business or the home address of the employer;
  • the position or the specialisation of the employee, their grade, the nature of their duties and the object of their employment;
  • the date of commencement of the contract or the employment relationship and its anticipated duration if this is for a fixed time;
  • notice periods;
  • the duration of any annual leave to which the employee is entitled, as well as the manner and time in which it may be taken;
  • the time limits which must be observed by the employer and the employee in the event of termination of employment, either by consent or unilaterally;
  • all types of remuneration to which the employee may be entitled and the time schedule for payment;
  • the usual duration of the employee’s daily or weekly employment; and details of any collective agreements which govern the terms and conditions of the employment.

Per Cypriot law, the employer must provide this information in written form no later than a month after an employee has been hired.

• Permanent (open-ended duration until the employer or employee terminate their contract agreement) 

• Temporary – employment is agreed for a specific and predetermined period 
• Internship – A contract outlining a learning period at a business in order for the employee to acquire a skill. It can be paid or unpaid. 

Third-country nationals (TCNs) can be employed in five categories: highly qualified personnel, unskilled workers, seasonal workers, in companies of foreign interests and employees transferred within the same company.

A contract can be terminated any moment by the employer or employee during the agreed probation without granting notice.

The dismissal of an employee without notice is allowed in the following scenarios: 

A) inappropriate and violation of code of conduct

B) the employee carried out a criminal offense in the performance of their duties

C) consistent or serious breach or misdemeanor of employment regulations. 

Other reasons for dismissal by providing relevant evidence include: 

A) insufficient performance

B) conclusion of the contract

C) employee is at retirement age

D) redundant staff

Health services in Cyprus are delivered by the new General Health System (GHS), a universal health system, which as of June 2019, has been under implementation. The aim of the GHS is to provide universal population health coverage, improve accessibility and address previous inefficiencies in service delivery.  

GHS aims to address coverage gaps by opening up healthcare (primary, outpatient and inpatient) for all Cypriot citizens, European Union (EU) citizens, third-country nationals (TCNs) with permanent residence permit, TCNs who are contributing to the social insurance system as well as recognised refugees and persons with status of subsidiary protection.

To register on GHS, visit: https://registration.gesy.org.cy/#/registration. 

The GHS system is operating under a three-fold contribution system, namely, co-contribution, Personal Contribution I and Personal Contribution II.

For more information on contributions, visit: https://bit.ly/3rfT2Zd 

The monthly contribution to GHS is currently at 2.9% of the gross salary paid by the employer, and another 2.65% paid by the employee. More information on healthcare services, providers and beneficiaries can be found on GHS’ website: https://bit.ly/3kMSQ1g.

The GHS is intended to have universal accessibility that includes not only Cypriot and EU nationals, but also TCNs. The primary criterion for eligibility is to legally reside in the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. In addition, you can be a GHS beneficiary if a) you are employed in Cyprus, b) you have acquired permanent residence status, c) you have been granted refugee or supplementary protection status, or d) you are a member of the family of a beneficiary or e) you are insured in another EU member state.

For every worker in Cyprus, the GHS contribution is mandatory, however, individuals can choose to maintain their subscription to private healthcare insurance, despite their eligibility in the GHS. 

To gain access to the healthcare services of GHS, registration is needed in:

The GHS Beneficiary Record: You can enroll in the GHS Beneficiary Record online or by visiting a personal doctor (PD). For non-Cypriots to enroll in the GHS Beneficiary Record, they must be registered in the Civil Registry, or the Registry of the Migration Department and, as the case may be, in the Social Insurance Services Registry. In addition, and in order to confirm that the criteria of the GHS Law of 2017 are complied with, the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) may request additional certificates and/or evidence.

A Personal Doctor (PD) List: Beneficiaries are able to search for PDs who are contracted with the HIO, either on the HIO website or the Beneficiary Portal or on printed directories that are made available by the HIO in various places that are announced to the beneficiaries. 

For more information about the registration of non-Cypriot nationals visit and click on “GHS enrollment. A step by step guide for non-Cypriot nationals”: https://bit.ly/388Jk37.

Women have direct access to a gynaecologist/obstetrician once they turn 15 at no charge.

Most forms of healthcare services are covered by the GHS. 

GHS provides a range of services, however, these have yet to be finalised, as more specialties are continuously added in the system. 

Currently, GHS provides: 

1. Referral by PD to an outpatient specialist 
2. Referral by PD to an outpatient specialist for diagnostic tests (diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, cytology, histopathology)
3. Referral by PD to an outpatient specialist in cytology and pathological anatomy by sending specimens for diagnostic tests
4. Referral by PD to nurse, clinical dietitian, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, physiotherapist and clinical psychologist
5. Referral by PD to the Accident & Emergency Department 
6. Referral by PD to a medical rehabilitation centre
7. Referral by PD to a palliative healthcare centre
8. Referral by PD to a laboratory
9. Prescription of pharmaceutical products
10. Dental services (no need for PD referral) - only covers annual dental cleaning
11. Gynaecologist/obstetrician (no need for PD referral)
12. Ambulance service
13. Home care
14. Inpatient healthcare services

For more information on the types of specialists available and their respective district, visit: https://www.gesy.org.cy/provider-search.

Non-EU nationals who wish to reside in Cyprus, are required to have a private health insurance plan, as it is a prerequisite for their registration at the Civil Registry and Migration Department. 

Specifically, non-EU citizens who wish to reside in Cyprus as housekeepers, gardeners, farmers or any agricultural-related work, drivers, workers, and any other occupation, as well as university and college students and non-EU citizens intending to reside in Cyprus must have a private health insurance plan. 

Long-term residence permits, temporary work, and student residency permits are tightly linked to the subscription to a private health insurance plan in deciding the granting and renewal of visas. The most basic features of private health insurance packages for non-EU national workers/students can be found below: https://mihub.eu/en/info/info-by-topic/health

The Social Insurance Scheme covers compulsorily every person gainfully occupied in Cyprus either as an employed person or as a self-employed person. Thus, anyone legally employed in Cyprus is eligible for social insurance, and thus, the benefits provided. 

The scheme provides cash benefits for parental leave, sickness, unemployment, invalidity, orphanhood, old age, death, and employment injury. The scheme also provides free medical treatment for persons receiving invalidity pension and for employed persons who sustain injuries as a result or an employment accident or an occupational disease. 

To apply for a sickness benefit applicants must submit this form within 20 days from the date which the benefit is claimed, alongside the required documents: https://bit.ly/3bfg2lp.  

Women employees in Cyprus are entitled to receive a motherhood benefit, for which they can either apply after the seventh month of their pregnancy or no later than 20 days from the date which the benefit is claimed. The application can be found here: https://bit.ly/3bfg2lp. The motherhood benefit covers on average 18 weeks of partial pay. 

For men workers in Cyprus who wish to apply for paternity leave, they must submit this application: https://bit.ly/3e5bIXS. The application is only available in Greek. Non-Greek speaking individuals, should physically visit their district’s social insurance office or send an email to the following addresses: https://bit.ly/3bd9MdS.  

Once someone becomes unemployed, they first need to register to their District Labour Office for the purpose of seeking employment. Afterwards, unemployed individuals can apply for unemployment benefits. To be entitled for the unemployment benefit, individuals must meet relevant contribution conditions. The benefit accounts for the salary of 156 working days. Applicants should submit this form: https://bit.ly/309yKo7. The form is only available in Greek. 

For non-Greek speaking individuals, they should physically visit their district’s social insurance office or send an email to one of the following addresses, based on the issue they experience: https://bit.ly/3bd9MdS.

Cypriot and EU nationals who can’t make ends meet can apply for financial assistance, namely, the Minimum Guaranteed Income (MGI), by filling out this form: https://bit.ly/389iyYE.

Non-EU nationals can apply for financial assistance by filling out this form: https://bit.ly/3bh9fri. 

The forms are only available in Greek. Non-Greek speaking applicants should visit or email their district’s Social Insurance or Social Welfare offices and explicitly request information about the MGI. Το receive this benefit, relevant conditions must be met in terms of property, savings, personal and family income. The terms are only available in Greek: https://bit.ly/3sS0udd.

Yes, see section above.