The Council of Ministers is expected to approve new measures today aimed at upgrading the status of contract soldiers and strengthening the National Guard, President Nikos Christodoulides said at the start of the Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace.
At the centre of the decision is full insurance protection for contract soldiers, a measure the President described as a “moral obligation of the state” towards those serving under contract.
The regulations are expected to align the insurance cover of contract soldiers with that of permanent National Guard personnel in cases of fatal or serious accidents while on duty. The provision includes a lump-sum compensation payment of €115,000, as well as an additional €95,000 for each dependant.
Christodoulides linked the decision to the broader strategy of moving the National Guard towards a more professional operating model, saying that “strengthening deterrent power begins with meaningful investment in human resources”.
He also reviewed measures already introduced since 2023 for contract soldiers, presenting today’s decision as part of a wider policy to upgrade the institution.
These measures include the introduction of a stable income, a 13th salary and cost-of-living adjustments, an increase in the maximum service age from 42 to 57, and an increase in the recruitment age limit from 27 to 35.
Contract soldiers have also been given the opportunity to progress into contract non-commissioned officer roles through written examinations, with the possibility of promotion up to the rank of sergeant major.
Other measures include increases in special allowances from €100 to €150, and from €200 to €250 for personnel serving in commandos, underwater demolition units, demining teams and nursing posts. Risk allowances have also been aligned with those of permanent personnel, while service as a contract soldier now counts as additional credit for recruitment in the Police, Fire Service and Civil Defence.
The President also sought to connect the measures with the country’s fiscal position, saying the resilience of the Cypriot economy allows the government to proceed with both social interventions and defence reinforcement.
