Cyprus: Notice period to employees

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Phase
Collective Dismissals Law of 2001 (Law 28(I)/2001); Termination of Employment Law, 1967 (Law 24/1967) as amended; The Transparent and Predictable Conditions of Employment Law of 2023
Native name
Ν. 28(I)/2001 - Ο περί Ομαδικών Απολύσεων Νόμος του 2001; Ν. 24/1967 - Ο περί Τερματισμού Απασχολήσεως Νόμος του 1967, όπως τροποποιήθηκε; Ο περί Διαφανών και Προβλέψιμων Όρων Εργασίας Νόμος του 2023
Type
Notice period to employees
Added to database
08 May 2015

Article

Article 4 and 8 of Collective Dismissals Law of 2001 Law 28(I)/2001); Article 9 of the Termination of Employment Law 24/1967; Article 15 of the Transparent and Predictable Conditions of Employment Law of 2023

Description

The Law 28(I)/2001, which applies to collective dismissals (within 30 days, dismissals of at least 10 workers in companies with 21-99 employees, at least 10% in firms with 100-299 workers or at least 30 workers in firms with 300 or more staff), does not provide for a specific notice period to employees. Article 4 requires for the employer who intends to resort to collective dismissals to consult with the employees' representatives in good time with the aim to conclude an agreement. However, Article 8 provides for a 30 days notification period to the relevant authority before the dismissals can enter into force.

Article 9 of the Termination of Employment Law 24/1967, which applies to all dismissals, provides for a minimum period of written notice for employee(s) to be dismissed on the basis of the length of service:

  • one week of notice period for 26 to less than 52 weeks of service;
  • two weeks of notice period for 52 to less than 104 weeks of service;
  • four weeks of notice period for 104 to less than 156 weeks of service;
  • five weeks of notice period for 156 to less than 208 weeks of service;
  • six weeks of notice period for 208 to less than 259 weeks of service;
  • seven weeks of notice period for 260 to less than 311 weeks of service;
  • eight weeks of notice period for more than 312 weeks of service.

The same article provides that during the trial employment period, which can last up to 26 weeks (able to be extended to up to 104 weeks with the written agreement of the employer and the employee) no notice period is mandatory by either party.

The Transparent and Predictable Conditions of Employment Law of 2023 took away the possibility of extension, so currently a trial period (when no notice period is mandatory), can only last up to 26 weeks (6 months).

Commentary

Trade unions consider this provision of the legislation as useful, as it provides space for redundant employees to make necessary preparations for their job transition.

Additional metadata

Cost covered by
None
Involved actors other than national government
National government
Involvement (others)
None
Thresholds
Affected employees: No, applicable in all circumstances
Company size: No, applicable in all circumstances
Additional information: No, applicable in all circumstances

Citation

Eurofound (2015), Cyprus: Notice period to employees, Restructuring legislation database, Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/legislationdb/notice-period-to-employees/cyprus