The calculation system for the Christmas bonus, which is paid to employees on December 21, 2025, is permanently established, as informed by the Labor Inspectorate, according to the provisions of K.Y.A. 19040/81 (FEK 742/B/81) of the Ministers of Economy and Labor, issued in execution of Art. 1 of Law 1082/80 (FEK 250/A/80).
Who is entitled to Christmas bonus?
Specifically, a Christmas bonus equal to one monthly salary for those paid monthly and 25 daily wages for those paid daily are entitled from their employers by all private sector employees who are paid monthly or daily wages, work either full-time or part-time, and have either fixed-term or indefinite employment contracts. In any case, the duration of the employment relationship matters for calculating the final amount.
The prerequisite for payment of the Christmas allowance 2025 is the existence of employment (employment relationship) of the employee within the time period from 01-05-2025 to 31-12-2025. The basis for calculating the bonus consists of the regular earnings paid on December 10th of each year. For employees whose employment relationship was terminated before the above date, either due to dismissal or voluntary departure, but within the bonus calculation period, i.e., from 01-05-2025 to 31-12-2025, the earnings of the termination date are taken into account.
This means that a dismissed private sector employee who is paid a salary (daily or hourly wage) can calculate the Christmas bonus 2025 that will be paid as follows:
- 2/25 of the monthly salary for every 19 calendar days of employment relationship duration, if it concerns a salaried employee.
- Two daily wages for every 19 calendar days of employment relationship duration, if it concerns those paid daily wages.
Even employees who worked for a period shorter than 19 days and were subsequently dismissed are entitled to a proportional fraction of the Christmas bonus.
The Christmas bonus 2025 is not allowed to be paid in kind, but only in cash!
Labor Inspectorate: Non-payment of bonus constitutes a criminal offense
If employers do not observe the specific time period within which they must settle their obligations, then they will suffer the consequences of the law, as non-payment of the bonus constitutes a criminal offense. For their part, employees should file a relevant complaint, either named or anonymous (through the complaint hotline 1555).
If employees and/or unions resort to the competent Labor Inspectorate based on the workplace location, a relevant criminal report will be drafted. The criminal report is forwarded to the Prosecutor for criminal prosecution against the employer or their legal representative (in the case of a legal entity, company, organization, etc.), while simultaneously forwarded to the relevant police department for initiating the flagrant procedure.
Furthermore, employees and/or their unions have the right to file a lawsuit directly with the competent police department and request the application of the flagrant procedure. It is noted that the criminal report should include, if possible with accuracy, the company details and the employer’s residence details, so that the flagrant procedure can be easily initiated.
The Labor Inspectorate will conduct inspections at businesses throughout the country during the holiday period and will impose legal penalties in cases where violations of labor legislation provisions are found. In any case of non-payment of the Christmas bonus within the prescribed deadline, as defined in the aforementioned provisions, labor inspectors will intervene immediately, conducting inspections and labor disputes and will be in full readiness for the application of current provisions, including the flagrant procedure, as provided by Article 417 et seq. of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
More information is available on the Labor Inspectorate website: www.hli.gov.gr/ergasiakes-scheseis/nomothesia-ergasiakes-scheseis/amoivi/doro-christougennon/dikaiouchoi-chronos-katavolis-2/. Also, on the website of the information center for employees and unemployed of GSSE (kepea.gr) you can find detailed information, as well as the online application www.kepea.gr/calc-doro-xristoygennon.php, for calculating the Christmas bonus.
For any clarification, complaint or provision of any information on the above matters, employees can contact the local Labor Relations Inspection departments – more information at www.hli.gov.gr/epikoinonia/, section “list of Labor Inspectorate services”.
