Cyprus: Ministry of Labour pays employers for hiring inactive women on flexible schedules

The Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance announced the launch of the grant program “Incentives for Hiring Inactive Women with Flexible Work Schedules,” funded by the European Social Fund+ and the Republic of Cyprus. Applications are accepted from September 5, 2025, until the allocated budget is exhausted or the program is officially closed.

According to the ministry, the total program fund amounts to €4,000,000. The unit funding is set at €48 per working day and is applied using a simplified cost calculation method. The subsidy will be paid for the first 10 months of employment, with the employer required to maintain the employment relationship for an additional 2 months without subsidy. The maximum possible payment over the 12-month contract period is €8,600.

The program aims to encourage employers to hire inactive women using flexible working arrangements and is part of active employment policy measures targeting poverty reduction, social inclusion, and the integration of vulnerable groups into the labour market. Applications are submitted through the electronic Grant Management Platform of the Department of Labour. Participation requirement: submit the application within one month from the employee’s hiring date and comply with the deadlines specified in the published call.

For more details, the ministry recommends consulting the materials of the Department of Labour and the Directorate-General for Development of the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry reserves the right to extend or withdraw the call using the same publication method.