Public Holidays in Cyprus for 2019
If you plan to open a business in Cyprus, you must be aware of the public holidays because your employees are entitled to not work on those days.
The Cyprus public holidays are paid, and it is offered whether you are a part-time or full-time worker. It is aside from the paid annual leave the law entitles them to every year.
All full-time employees must be given a day-off on every national holiday. If the employee must work on one of those days, they are given unique benefits. The part-time employees must be given equivalent holidays as what full-time workers are also entitled.
In general, retail stores must be closed during the majority of public holidays each year. However, there are stores and some establishments that may open on some holidays.
Know more about them here.
What Employers Must Know
The employee’s salary payment is normally made by the month of the month. The amount that needs to be paid is calculated based on the agreement. If the employee is absent during a non-paid leave, the employer can deduct from the salary, but the amount must be in proportion with the absence.
The employer must be registered under Social Insurance Services and a registration number so they can hire another person. Also, a hiring document must be completed by the employer with the employees’ complete details. Both parties must then sign the document. The agreement also needs to say the nature of work is, hours of work, and how the payment is given.
Dates of the Cyprus Public Holiday 2019
| Date | Day/s | Holiday | Type |
| 1 January | Tuesday | New Year’s Day | National |
| 6 January | Sunday | Epiphany | National |
| 11 March | Monday | Green Monday | National |
| 20 March | Wednesday | March Equinox | Season |
| 25 March | Monday | Greek Independence Day | National |
| 1 April | Monday | Cyprus National Holiday | National |
| 26 April | Friday | Good Friday | National |
| 27 April | Saturday | Holy Saturday | Observance |
| 28 April | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Observance |
| 29 April | Monday | Easter Monday | National |
| 30 April | Tuesday | Orthodox Easter Tuesday | Bank Holiday |
| 1 May | Wednesday | Labor Day | National |
| 11 June | Monday | Orthodox Pentecost Monday | National |
| 21 June | Friday | June Solstice | Season |
| 15 August | Thursday | Assumption of the Virgin Mary | National |
| 23 September | Monday | September Equinox | Season |
| 1 October | Tuesday | Cyprus Independence Day | National |
| 27 October | Sunday | Daylight Saving Time ends | Clock change/ Daylight Saving Time |
| 28 October | Monday | Ochi Day | National |
| 22 December | Sunday | December Solstice | Season |
| 24 December | Tuesday | Christmas Eve | Observance |
| 25 December | Wednesday | Christmas Day | National |
| 26 December | Thursday | Boxing Day | National |
| 31 December | Tuesday | New Year’s Eve | Observance |
Benefits of Employees During Public Holidays
Employees who already finished 48 weeks of work in a year can have four weeks of paid leave. Employees who are working five days a week must have 20 days of paid leave yearly, and the ones who are working six days a week must be given 24 days of paid leave.
If the temporary accident due to sickness, accident, parental, or maternity leave or force majeure, it is considered a working period. Employees who have worked less than 48 weeks must adjust their leaves according to how many weeks they worked.
Maternity Leave
On the first three days, an employee is absent because of an illness, and employees are not entitled to receive payment. After the three days, employees may receive part of their Social Insurance Fund. Sick pay can be up to 156 days, and it could be extended to another 156 days if the person insured is qualified to receive incapacity pension.
Some employees provide sick pay during the first three days, and some of them pay the balance that is not covered by the Social Insurance Fund.
Opening a Business in Cyprus
Starting a business in Cyprus is secure, and their government is helpful to foreign investors in their attempt to attract them. They use a good tax system and low level of red tape.
It takes only a maximum of 10 days to register, and entrepreneurs are encouraged to open different types of business that are regulated by Company Law. There are limited liability companies, guarantee limited company, public limited company, or general and limited partnerships.
There are many reasons why you must set up a business in Cyprus, and part of those is how foreign investors are encouraged to open a business.
