2020 Holidays - Cyprus

Cyprus Public Holiday Observance Rules

1. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Sunday

- Substitute Day: For many of Cyprus’s fixed national holidays, if the holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is often observed as a substitute day. This practice ensures that employees receive a day off in lieu of the public holiday.

- Official Calendar Guidance: The annual government-published holiday calendar specifies which holidays will be shifted. Certain religious holidays may remain on their actual date, even if that date is a Sunday.

- Employer Compliance: Employers are required to adhere to the official calendar. If employees work on the substitute day, they are entitled to overtime pay or compensatory leave in accordance with Cyprus labor laws.

2. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Saturday

- Observed on the Calendar Date: Generally, if a public holiday occurs on a Saturday, it is observed on that day with no automatic transfer to another weekday—unless the official decree provides otherwise.

- Work and Compensation: Employees working on a Saturday holiday are entitled to appropriate overtime or compensatory leave as per local labor regulations.

3. Bridge Holidays (Long Weekends)

- No Formal Bridging System: Cyprus does not have a statutory requirement to create extra “bridge” days for holidays that fall adjacent to weekends.

- Government Announcements: On occasion, the government may designate substitute days to create long weekends, and such decisions are clearly stated in the official holiday calendar.

- Employer Flexibility: While employers must follow the official calendar, they may offer additional days off as part of internal policies.

4. Special Cases for Public Holidays

- National vs. Religious Holidays: Many national (fixed) holidays—such as those commemorating independence or significant state events—are subject to the substitute-day rule if they fall on a Sunday, while most religious holidays (following the Orthodox liturgical calendar) are observed on their actual dates.

- Official Decrees: Detailed observance rules, including any adjustments for holidays falling on weekends, are provided in the government’s annual decree and accompanying publications.

5. Additional Notes

- Official Calendar: The Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance publishes the official public holiday calendar each year. Both employers and employees should refer to it for the precise rules applicable in that year.

- Labor Law Compliance: Employees working on public holidays (or their substitute days) are entitled to overtime pay or compensatory leave, as stipulated by Cyprus labor law.

- Employer Initiatives: Employers may offer additional benefits or extra bridging days beyond the statutory requirements, but these are discretionary.