Holiday pay in Greece: when it must be paid and who will receive up to €589.41

As the summer holiday season begins, thousands of workers in Greece are awaiting payment of επίδομα αδείας, i.e. holiday pay. This is not a bonus or a voluntary gesture of the employer, but a right of employees under an employment contract established by labor legislation.

It is important to remember the main thing: vacation pay and the benefit itself must be paid before the start of the vacationand not after returning to work. The employer is obliged to transfer money at the start of annual paid leave.

When should επίδομα αδείας be paid?

According to clarifications from the Greek Labor Inspectorate, both holiday pay and επίδομα αδείας must be given to the employee in advance at the start of the vacation. That is, a person should not go on vacation at his own expense and wait for payment after returning.

If leave is granted in installments, the benefit is usually paid along with the first part of the leave. However, the parties may agree otherwise if it is more beneficial for the employee himself.

The right to payment continues even upon termination of the employment relationship. If an employee resigns or has been dismissed before using annual leave, he or she is still entitled to compensation for unused vacation and the corresponding portion of the vacation pay.

How much is vacation pay?

Size επίδομα αδείας depends on the form of remuneration and on the actual regular income received.

For workers with a fixed monthly salary, the maximum benefit is half a month’s salary.

For those receiving daily wages, hourly wages, interest or piece wages, the maximum amount cannot exceed 13 daily earnings.

The calculation takes into account not only the base salary. The amount may include regular additional payments, such as permanent bonuses for night work, work on Sundays and holidays, as well as systematic overtime.

Why did the amount increase in 2026?

From April 1, 2026, the legal minimum wage in Greece has increased from 880 to 920 euros gross. The minimum daily wage for workers is set at 41.09 euros. regular wages, the increase in the minimum wage automatically increased the maximum amount επίδομα αδείας for those who earn the minimum wage.

For an employee with a salary of 920 euros gross, the maximum holiday pay is:

920 euros ÷ 2 = 460 euros gross.

However, in Greek calculations the holiday allowance is additionally increases by the coefficient associated with holiday payments. Therefore, the final maximum amount for a minimum wage worker in 2026 is approximately 589.41 euros.

For comparison: with a minimum salary of 880 euros in 2025, the maximum amount was about 556.05 euros.

Allowance and vacation pay are not the same thing

Workers often mix two different payments.

• Vacation payments This is the normal salary for annual leave days that a person would receive if he continued to work.
• Επίδομα αδείας This is a separate additional benefit that is paid along with vacation pay and has its own maximum limits.

Therefore, before a vacation, an employee can receive not only the usual payment for rest days, but also an additional amount of vacation benefits.

Who should check the calculation?

It is worth checking the payment especially carefully for employees who receive regular additional payments for night shifts, work on Sundays, holidays, or systematic overtime. If such payments are a regular part of income, they may be taken into account when calculating holiday pay and benefits.

It is also worth checking the calculation for those who started working recently, moved to another position, changed their schedule, work for less than a full year, or quit before using their vacation. In such cases, a prorated portion of the benefit is usually paid.

The main rule is simple: vacation pay and επίδομα αδείας must be paid at the beginning of the vacation. If the employer offers to “sort it out after you return,” this is no longer an ordinary delay, but a reason to carefully check your labor rights.

Sources: Greek Ministry of Labor, Labor Inspectorate, ΚΕΠΕΑ/ΓΣΕΕ.

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