Decrees issued by the Minister of Labour, Yannis Panayiotou, regarding the employment of workers from third countries, were published on Friday in the Republic's official gazette. The decrees introduce provisions to attract highly skilled professionals in specific sectors with a minimum wage requirement and allow foreign students already in Cyprus as of December 1 to work in eight defined sectors.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Labour, these measures aim to address the growing needs of the Cypriot labour market by attracting highly qualified professionals and broadening employment opportunities for foreign students.

To encourage the employment of highly qualified individuals from third countries, the decree outlines sectors where a European Blue Card may be granted, along with a minimum gross annual salary of €43,632—equivalent to 1.5 times the average gross annual salary in Cyprus.

The decree identifies key sectors eligible for Blue Card employment:

• Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

• Pharmaceutical Research

• Maritime (excluding captains and ship’s crew)

The decrees also update the eligibility date for foreign students to work in Cyprus, extending it to December 2024 from the previous cut-off of March 2024.

Foreign students are permitted to work in specified economic sectors, provided they meet certain conditions:

• They must secure an employment contract certified by the Department of Labour, which specifies the terms of employment.

• A full-time study certificate and a document stating their study hours from a recognized institution are required.

• Students must hold a valid residence permit and provide a monthly work schedule to the Labour Department.

The approved sectors for student employment include:

• Trade

• Health and Social Care

• Manufacturing

• Agriculture

• Catering and Hotels