What if I never received holiday pay during my employment in Cyprus?

If holiday pay was never paid, you may have a claim for all accrued leave. Time limits apply — act quickly.

Holiday Pay Cyprus — Annual Leave Rights for Hospitality Workers

Q: How much annual leave am I entitled to in Cyprus?

All employees in Cyprus are entitled to a minimum of 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year.

What the Law Says

Minimum Entitlement

Under the Annual Holidays with Pay Law and the Organisation of Working Time Law 63(I)/2002, every employee in Cyprus is entitled to a minimum of 4 weeks (20 working days) of paid annual leave per year.

Payment on Termination

When employment ends, your employer must pay you for all accrued but untaken annual leave. This applies whether you resigned or were dismissed. Your employer cannot forfeit your leave entitlement.

Public Holidays

Employees are entitled to paid public holidays. In the hospitality sector, entitlement for public holiday work is typically set by your employment contract, collective agreement, or applicable sector regulations.

Common Signs Your Holiday Pay May Not Have Been Paid

No holiday pay on leaving

You left the job and received no payment for any accrued annual leave, even after months or years of employment.

Never paid during employment

Throughout your employment, holiday pay was never included in your wages and no leave was ever paid out.

No payslips to verify

You never received payslips, making it impossible to confirm whether holiday pay was included in your wages.

Bank holidays not paid

You worked on public or bank holidays and received no additional pay or compensatory time off.

What You May Be Entitled To

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Accrued annual leave payment

Payment for all annual leave accrued during your employment that was never paid — at your normal rate of pay.

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Leave in lieu on termination

Any untaken annual leave at the end of employment must be paid out. This cannot be waived by your employer.

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Pro-rata entitlement

Even if you worked for less than a full year, you are entitled to a proportional amount of annual leave for the period worked.

Evidence to Gather

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Payslips — to check whether holiday pay was ever included in your wages.
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Employment contract — confirming your leave entitlement and pay rate.
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Bank statements — showing every payment from your employer.
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WhatsApp or text messages — any communication about leave, holidays, or payment.

What You Can Do Next

Calculate what you are owed

For 2 years of employment: 2 × 20 days = 40 days of leave entitlement. Multiply by your daily rate.

Write a formal letter to your employer

WorkerShield generates a professional resolution letter for €10 — personalised to your situation.

Apply to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal

Time limit: 3 months from when the payment should have been made. No filing fee, you can self-represent.

Frequently Asked Questions

All employees in Cyprus are entitled to a minimum of 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year under the Annual Holidays with Pay Law and the Organisation of Working Time Law 63(I)/2002.

Yes. Any accrued but untaken annual leave must be paid to you when your employment ends. Your employer cannot cancel unused leave on termination.

If holiday pay was never paid, you may have a claim for all accrued leave going back to the start of your employment. Time limits apply — act quickly.

Yes. Part-time workers are entitled to paid annual leave on a pro-rata basis, proportional to their contracted hours.

Holiday Pay in Cyprus