New regulations extend half-day leave to part-time civil servants in Cyprus

On October 29, 2026, the Cypriot government submitted proposed regulatory amendments to the House of Representatives to grant half-day leave to civil servants working under reduced-hour contracts. Approved by the Council of Ministers on September 16, 2026, and legally vetted by the Law Office, these changes update the existing 1995 regulations that previously limited half-day leave exclusively to full-time staff.

The initiative follows the implementation of the 2025 Public Service (Working Time) Regulations, which allowed reduced hours starting February 1, 2026. Eligible employees include parents of children up to 15 years old, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities or serious health conditions, the latter requiring medical certification. Under the new rules, a half-day of leave is defined as 3 hours and 45 minutes for those on a five-day work week, and 3 hours for those on a six-day work week. Reduced-hour employees currently face a proportional reduction in their salaries.

These adjustments aim to align leave entitlements with the flexible work policies introduced earlier this year. The proposal now awaits legislative approval by the House of Representatives to become effective.