The government of Cyprus will soon raise the national minimum wage. They say it will be a real increase, not just a small one. This is because the country's economy is growing.
At the same time, the government approved a special one-time Christmas Bonus for 2025. This money will help about 65,000 families who receive state benefits.
The Labour Minister said the new minimum wage will help with real needs. It follows a recent agreement to bring back a payment that helps with inflation.
A government officer explained the bonus is because living costs are going up. They want to help vulnerable families.
However, a major trade union is not happy. They say the government is not supporting workers enough in other ways. They also say a bigger political problem is bad for the economy.
These two actions are to help people with low or no income. Experts say it might reduce stress about money for now. But the government says bigger changes, like to the pension system, are needed next.