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Low-Income Pensioners In Cyprus Eligible For Subsidized Holiday Scheme

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

May 26, 2026

Program Overview

Applications will open on May 25, 2026 for a government-supported holiday program for low-income pensioners in Cyprus. The initiative, approved by the Cabinet on May 13 and implemented through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, provides fully subsidized accommodation with full board at mountain resorts and the Pyrgos Tyllirias resort.

Scheme Details And Availability

The program offers four-day holiday packages, including three overnight stays with full board. Participants will be able to select either Friday-to-Monday or Tuesday-to-Friday stays during two separate periods running from June 5 to July 31, 2026 and from September 1 to October 30, 2026.

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Eligibility Criteria

The scheme is available to low-income pensioners receiving support through the Pension Enhancement Scheme, beneficiaries of the EEE program and retirees with annual incomes up to €15,500 for individuals and €20,000 for families. Coverage also extends to dependents included under the Pension Enhancement Scheme for low-income pensioners.

Priority Application Windows

Priority during the first application phase, running from May 25 to May 31, 2026, will be given to applicants who did not participate in the program during 2025. Additional priority will also be granted to former prisoners of war, non-conscripts and individuals disabled during the 1974 Turkish invasion who currently receive a monthly honorarium through Social Security services.

Partnership With Travel Agency

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has engaged ORTHODOXOU TRAVEL under public contracting regulations and in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation to implement the scheme effectively.

Application Process

Prospective beneficiaries must submit their applications online via the ORTHODOXOU TRAVEL website starting on May 25, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the allocated funding is exhausted, underscoring the urgency for early submission.

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Cyprus Has One Of The EU’s Oldest Teaching Workforces

by News Editor

August 18, 2026

Only 3% of teachers in Cyprus are under 30, putting the country alongside Portugal for the lowest share of young teachers in the European Union, according to a European Commission report. The figure is well below the EU average of 8%, while Malta has the highest proportion at 17%, followed by Belgium and Luxembourg at around 15%.

Cyprus is also the only EU member state identified in the report as having a surplus of teachers, despite the workforce being relatively old.

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Older Teachers Remain Highly Satisfied

The teaching profession appears to remain attractive to those already working in it. In 2024, 73% of Cypriot teachers said they were satisfied with their salaries, compared with just 37.3% across the EU. Job satisfaction was also high, reaching 93% in Cyprus versus 90% across the bloc.

The age gap is particularly visible in secondary education, where teachers in Cyprus averaged 46 years old in 2024, compared with 45 across OECD member states. Only 4% were under 30, while 33% were aged 50 or older.

Reform Could Change The System

The findings come as Cyprus moves toward the final stage of its teacher evaluation reform. Until August next year, vacancies will continue to be divided between the old appointment list and the newer system introduced in 2015.

From next September, first-appointment vacancies will be filled exclusively through the new list. The European Commission has meanwhile called for stronger efforts to attract and retain younger teachers, including through better working conditions and greater support for people entering the profession.