Employers in Cyprus to receive up to €860 per month for hiring former prisoners

In Cyprus, on April 9, 2026, the Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB) and the Ministry of Justice and Public Order (MJPO) signed a memorandum for the implementation of the Incentive Plan for the Employment Rehabilitation of Prisoners.

According to OEB, the memorandum updates and expands the cooperation initiated by a similar agreement in 2020, which led to the professional rehabilitation of 116 individuals. Under the plan, employers receive wage cost reimbursements of up to €860 per month for two years, with a maximum total payment of €20,640 per employee.

The plan covers several categories: prisoners under electronic monitoring until full release, persons released on license living in the community until the end of their sentence, persons supervised by the Guidance Center for Extra-Institutional Employment and Rehabilitation of Prisoners, and already released individuals. These provisions are detailed in the official OEB announcement.

The statement emphasizes that access to work is a key factor for sustainable social reintegration and reducing recidivism. The implementation of the memorandum will be overseen by a joint commission of the Ministry and OEB to coordinate and effectively execute the activities. The Federation stated its intention to continue working towards achieving measurable results.