Closer to what matters
About info.cy RSS
Latest
Cyprus braces for storms, hail and strong winds on Wednesday Fuel stations warn pump prices may climb again as oil stays high Storm system to bring rain to Cyprus, disrupting October 28 parades Cyprus landlords weigh long-term rents against holiday lets Nicosia centre shut to traffic Wednesday for October 28 parade Cyprus court: citizenship by registration cannot be passed to a new spouse Cyprus to start forced returns of Syrians as asylum rejections top 5,000 Cyprus to receive 110,000 flu vaccine doses after two-week delay

Minimum wage in Cyprus in 2026: how much, who is covered and what may be deducted

From 1 January 2026 the Cyprus minimum wage is €1.088 gross a month, €979 for the first six months with an employer. Who is not covered, deductions for board and lodging, part-time.

Working in Cyprus Checked: Changed:

In short

Who it applies to
Everyone employed in Cyprus, full-time or part-time — Cypriot, EU and third-country nationals alike. It does not cover domestic workers, farm and livestock workers, seafarers, hotel staff (they have their own list of rates) or people in mandatory training for a diploma or profession.
What it costs
€1.088 gross a month for full-time work; for the first 6 months with the same employer at least €979. From this, 8.8% goes to social insurance and 2.65% to GESY. Paying less is not allowed even if the employee agrees.
How long it takes
The rates apply from 1 January 2026 and are reviewed every 2 years. The €979 rate becomes €1.088 on its own once you have six months of continuous work with that employer.
Where to apply
If you are paid less, the district office of the Department of Labour Relations takes complaints — in writing, through its website (anonymously too), by phone or in person. Third-country nationals file in writing with the police Aliens and Immigration Service, which passes the complaint to the Department of Labour Relations.
If your case differs
Overtime, holiday work and other payments are left untouched by the minimum-wage order — they follow the contract and the law. Commission counts towards the minimum: together with it, monthly pay may not fall below the rate.

Your case

If you have worked for this employer for less than six months

You may be paid no less than €979 a month for full-time work. Once you have 6 months of continuous work with this employer, the floor becomes €1.088 — no new contract needed. Move to another employer and the six months start again, because the order speaks of work “with the same employer”.

If you have worked for the employer for six months or more

The floor is €1.088 gross a month for full-time work; part-time pay is the matching share by hours — a shop assistant on 19 hours against a 38-hour norm gets half. If the employer provides meals or housing, an agreement may deduct up to 15% for meals and up to 10% for housing; you can end it with 45 days' notice. From the gross, 8.8% goes to social insurance and 2.65% to GESY.

If you work in a hotel

Hotels have their own list of minimum rates by job, in force since 1 January 2025. The rates are for a 38-hour, five-day week; the lowest is €965, for a porter in the first six months and an assistant receptionist in the first three; other jobs are paid more. Hotel-school students on placement are not covered.

If you are a domestic worker, or work on a farm or at sea

The general minimum does not apply to you: pay is set by a collective agreement, practice or the written contract at hiring. For domestic workers the department gives €460 gross a month, from which board and lodging are deducted. Processing farm produce is not excluded — the general rate applies there.

Deadlines and conditions

  • the minimum wage is €1.088 gross a monthΚΔΠ 427/2025, para. 3 (new para. 5 of ΚΔΠ 350/2022): «καθορίζεται από την 1η Ιανουαρίου 2026 σε χίλια ογδόντα οκτώ (1.088) ευρώ για πλήρη απασχόληση».
  • for the first six months with an employer the floor is €979The same paragraph, proviso: for those who «δεν έχουν συμπληρώσει έξι (6) μήνες συνεχούς απασχόλησης στον ίδιο εργοδότη» — «εννιακόσια εβδομήντα εννέα (979) ευρώ για πλήρη απασχόληση, μέχρι τη συμπλήρωση έξι (6) μηνών».
  • the lower rate lasts only the first 6 months with that employerThe same: «μέχρι τη συμπλήρωση έξι (6) μηνών συνεχούς απασχόλησης» — counted with one and the same employer («στον ίδιο εργοδότη»).
  • up to 15% may be deducted by agreement for meals provided by the employerΚΔΠ 350/2022, para. 10: where the employer provides «αξιοπρεπή διατροφή ή/και διαμονή», the rate may be reduced «κατόπιν συμφωνίας … (α) μέχρι 15% όταν παρέχεται διατροφή».
  • up to 10% for accommodation provided by the employerThe same: «(β) μέχρι 10% όταν παρέχεται διαμονή».
  • the employee can end such an agreement with 45 days' noticeThe same: «ο εργοδοτούμενος δύναται να τερματίσει την πιο πάνω συμφωνία … με προειδοποίηση σαράντα πέντε (45) ημερών προς τον εργοδότη».
  • a teenager under 18 in casual work of up to two months may be paid 25% lessΚΔΠ 350/2022, para. 11: for persons «ηλικίας μέχρι 18 ετών για περιστασιακή απασχόληση που δεν υπερβαίνει τους δύο συνεχόμενους μήνες» the rate may be cut «κατά 25%», but not together with other reductions.
  • the rates are reviewed every 2 yearsΚΔΠ 350/2022, para. 7(2): the review mechanism runs from 01.01.2024 «και εφεξής θα τίθεται σε εφαρμογή κάθε δύο έτη».
Show all conditions (13)
  • 8.8% of the salary is withheld for social insuranceSocial Insurance Services announcement “Social insurance contributions from 1 January 2024”: the employee pays 8.8%, the employer another 8.8%.
  • and 2.65% is the GESY contributionLaw 89(Ι)/2001, s. 19(1): μισθωτός — 2.65% of earnings.
  • the lowest hotel rate is €965 a monthΚΔΠ 55/2025, table: «Πόρτερ/Υπάλληλος βαλιτσών με υπηρεσία μέχρι 6 μηνών 965», «Βοηθός υπάλληλος υποδοχής με υπηρεσία μέχρι 3 μηνών 965»; para. 3(3) — 38 hours a week, five days.
  • hotel rates are set for a 38-hour weekΚΔΠ 55/2025, para. 3(3): «Οι μηνιαίοι μισθοί του πιο πάνω Πίνακα αφορούν εργασία 38 ώρες εβδομαδιαία σε 5νθήμερη βάση».
  • for domestic workers the department gives €460 grossDepartment of Labour Relations FAQ, question 13.1: “As of 1.7.2013, minimum gross monthly wages for domestic workers is €460”, with 15% deducted for food and 10% for accommodation. This is the department's figure; ΚΔΠ 350/2022 excludes domestic workers.

How much you take home

8.8% for social insurance and 2.65% for GESY are withheld from the gross, but the base depends on whether the employer pays into the Holiday Fund: the department counts them on the wage plus those contributions. The exact take-home sum is on your payslip or with the employer's accountant.

Sources

Related questions