Cyprus’ statutory national minimum wage rose to €1,000 per month gross from January 1, 2026, up from €960 in 2025. The Council of Ministers approved the increase in November 2025 following the recommendation of the social-dialogue process between the Ministry of Labour, the unions and the employers’ federation. Below is what changes for employers and workers — and who is and isn’t covered.
Key Takeaways
- The new minimum wage is €1,000/month gross from January 1, 2026, a 4.2% increase on the 2025 rate of €960.
- New hires receive €900/month for their first six months at the same employer; from month seven, the full €1,000 applies.
- An estimated 41,000 workers — roughly 9% of the private-sector workforce — are affected directly.
- Several sector-specific minima (hospitality, security guards, cleaners, shop staff) remain higher than the national floor under separate decrees.
- The minimum wage does not apply to seasonal agricultural workers, domestic helpers in private homes, apprentices, or seafarers.
What the new figure is
The headline numbers, effective January 1, 2026:
| Status | Monthly gross | Hourly equivalent (40h/week) |
|---|---|---|
| First 6 months at employer | €900 | ~€5.20 |
| After 6 months at employer | €1,000 | ~€5.77 |
The minimum applies to a 40-hour standard work week. Pro-rata calculations apply to part-time roles. The full official decree is published by the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance.
Who is covered
The national minimum wage covers all private-sector employees on full-time or part-time contracts, with the specific exemptions listed below. It applies regardless of nationality — EU and non-EU workers on valid Cyprus work permits are entitled to the same minimum.
Who is not covered
Five categories of worker remain outside the national minimum wage in 2026:
- Seasonal agricultural workers — covered by separate sectoral collective agreements.
- Domestic helpers in private households — covered by a dedicated migrant-worker scheme with its own minimum (typically €460–€500/month plus board and lodging).
- Apprentices formally registered under the Cyprus Apprenticeship Scheme.
- Seafarers on Cyprus-flagged vessels — covered by the maritime collective agreements.
- Family members employed by a sole-proprietor relative.
Sector-specific minima above the national floor
Six sectors maintain their own statutory minima — all currently above €1,000/month — under separate Council of Ministers decrees:
| Sector | Minimum (€/month) |
|---|---|
| Hotel staff (4-star+) | ~€1,150 |
| Security guards | ~€1,180 |
| Cleaners (commercial premises) | ~€1,030 |
| Shop staff (retail) | ~€1,090 |
| Nursing assistants (private clinics) | ~€1,210 |
| Childcare workers | ~€1,070 |
Where a sectoral minimum applies, it overrides the national figure — employers must pay the higher of the two. Indicative figures above; check the Ministry’s annual decree for current exact rates.
What this means for employers: if you employ shop staff, hotel front-of-house, security or cleaning workers and you’ve been paying the national €960 figure during 2025, you’ve been underpaying. Run a payroll review before Q2 2026 — backdated wage claims to the sectoral rate are enforceable for up to 24 months.
What this means for take-home pay
A worker on the new €1,000/month full minimum, working 40 hours/week:
| Item | Monthly (€) |
|---|---|
| Gross salary | 1,000 |
| Social Insurance (8.8%) | −88 |
| GeSY (2.65%) | −27 |
| Income tax | €0 (under €19,500 threshold) |
| Net take-home | ~885 |
For full sector-by-sector pay context across the Cyprus market, see our Cyprus salary guide 2026. For where minimum-wage roles cluster within technical professions, our junior developer salary breakdown shows that even entry-level tech roles sit well above the legal floor.
Enforcement
The Department of Labour Inspection enforces compliance and conducts both scheduled and complaint-driven workplace audits. Penalties for underpayment include backdated wage liability (up to 24 months), fines starting at €500 per affected worker per month of breach, and — for repeat offenders — criminal prosecution of company directors. Workers can file complaints anonymously through the Department’s hotline or via the Ministry’s online portal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Cyprus in 2026?
The Cyprus national minimum wage is €1,000/month gross from January 1, 2026, for employees who have completed six months at the same employer. New hires receive €900/month for the first six months. The figure represents a 4.2% increase on the 2025 rate of €960.
Does the minimum wage apply to part-time workers?
Yes. The €1,000/month figure is calculated against a 40-hour standard work week. Part-time workers are entitled to the pro-rata equivalent — for example, a 20-hour-per-week role must pay at least €500/month gross.
Do non-EU workers in Cyprus receive the minimum wage?
Yes. The national minimum wage applies to all private-sector employees regardless of nationality, provided they hold a valid work permit. For information on the work permit process, see our step-by-step Cyprus work permit guide.
Why do hotel and security workers earn more than the national minimum?
Six sectors — hotels (4-star+), security, commercial cleaning, retail, private nursing and childcare — have their own statutory minima set by separate Council of Ministers decrees. These sectoral minima all sit above €1,000/month and override the national figure for workers in those sectors.
What happens if my employer pays less than the minimum wage?
You can file a complaint with the Department of Labour Inspection, anonymously if needed. Confirmed underpayment triggers backdated wage recovery (up to 24 months), fines starting at €500 per worker per month of breach, and, for repeat offenders, possible criminal prosecution of company directors.
Is the Cyprus minimum wage going to rise again in 2027?
The Ministry of Labour reviews the figure annually through social dialogue. Indicative trajectory based on 2024–2026 increases suggests the 2027 figure will land between €1,030 and €1,070, but the figure is not announced until late in the preceding year and depends on inflation and the social-partner negotiations.
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