Armed Forces: Ministerial Decision Published for Full Night Shift Compensation of Military Personnel – Examples Included

Excellent news for the Armed Forces was announced today (01.10.2025) by the Ministry of National Defence, as a Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) has been published in Government Gazette B’ 5175/30-9-2025 regarding full compensation for night duties of military personnel. Until now, service members in the Armed Forces received compensation on average for only 5 out of the 8 hours of night duty; however, under the new JMD, all 8 hours will now be fully compensated. The decision was signed by the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, and Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Athanasios Petralias, redefining the maximum allowable hours of night work for military personnel performing 24-hour shifts. For example: – A soldier conducting 6 duties per month, previously compensated for 28 hours, will now be compensated for 48 hours—a 70% increase in pay, rising from €93 to €160 monthly, amounting to an annual benefit of €800. – A soldier performing 4 duties monthly, previously paid for 21 hours, will now receive compensation for 32 hours—an increase of 52%, from €70 to €107 per month, totaling €440 annually. Additionally, under the same JMD and as part of ongoing personnel support measures, night shift compensation is now formally established for military nurses, who previously had no such provision. For instance, a nurse working 3 night shifts per month will receive €80 monthly, or €960 annually. The total additional compensation package for military staff amounts to €8.7 million. The new JMD will take effect from 01 January 2026 and can be read in full here.