Cyprus - Minimum wage increase splits employers and unions - December 31, 2025

The Government’s decision to raise the national minimum wage to € 1,088 per month, has drawn strong and conflicting reactions from employers’ organisations and trade unions. The increase was approved by the council of ministers, following a proposal by the ministry of labour and social insurance. Under the decree, the minimum wage before completing six months of employment will rise from € 900 to € 979, and after from € 1,000 to € 1,088. The changes are expected to benefit around 50,000 workers and will apply from January. Trade unions expressed strong disappointment, arguing that the increase falls far short of what is needed to protect workers amid rising living costs. In a joint statement, Sek, Peo and Deok said the decision constituted a setback and failed to meet the guidelines of the EU directive on adequate minimum wages.

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For more information, please contact Paul de Beer or Oana Ciuca, De Burcht (Scientific Bureau for the Dutch Trade Union Movement) p.t.debeer@uva.nl or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Mehmet Koksal mkoksal@etui.org. For previous full issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit https://www.etui.org/Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter or consult the archive with all articles in our database at www.cbnarchive.eu. You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org.