Greece will introduce a €500 gross Christmas bonus for public-sector employees starting in December 2027, with the actual amount received by workers ranging from €257 to €389, depending on their individual circumstances.
The holiday benefit will be included in employees’ regular earnings and will also count toward pensionable earnings. Public-sector workers who serve for only part of the year will receive the benefit on a proportional basis, calculated according to the months they have worked since January 1, 2027.
The measure is expected to cover approximately 720,000 public employees. Its annual fiscal cost to the state budget, including employer contributions, is estimated at €433 million.
Net amounts vary by employee
Although the announced Christmas bonus is €500 gross, deductions mean employees will receive different net amounts.
The net benefit is expected to range from €257 to €389, depending on factors including salary, age and family circumstances.
The government will also increase public-sector salaries through adjustments linked to the minimum wage.
Further salary increases through 2028
Greece’s minimum wage is expected to rise from €920 currently to €1,000 by January 2028, through successive increases in April 2027 and January 2028.
Under the plan, this would translate into an additional €80 gross per month, or €960 annually, by January 2028.
Combined with the Christmas bonus, the changes would produce different overall gains depending on each employee’s salary and family circumstances.
