Easter Bonus 2025: What is the Final Payment Date?

A countdown of twelve days begins today for the deadline of payment for employees. Specifically, the Easter bonus in the private sector must be paid by Holy Wednesday, April 16, 2025, by employers. Notably, for employees earning the minimum wage, this year’s Easter bonus will increase by 6%, calculated based on the April 2025 salary, which incorporates the raise announced by the government on March 26, 2025. Thus, a full-time employee (five-day, eight-hour workweek) with the new minimum wage of €742 net and service years between 0-3 will receive an Easter bonus of €371. According to current legislation, all salaried employees working in the private sector under a dependent employment contract, whether indefinite or fixed-term, full or part-time, are entitled to an Easter bonus. The Easter bonus is payable on Holy Wednesday, though employers can pay it earlier. Contributions for EOPYY (IKA) and Employee Services Tax are applied to the Easter bonus, which must be paid in cash. If the bonus isn’t paid on time, employees or their unions can report the issue to the local Labor Inspectorate to file a formal complaint. The complaint is then forwarded to the Prosecutor for individual prosecution against the employer and simultaneously to the local police department for the initiation of summary proceedings. Employees or their unions have the right to directly file a complaint with the responsible police department requesting the initiation of summary proceedings. In any case of non-payment within the stipulated deadline, Social Labor Inspectors of SEPE are obligated to intervene immediately, conducting checks and ensuring the summary process and relevant penalties are enforced. The calculation of the Easter bonus considers the employee’s payment method—whether hourly or salary-based. The period considered for the bonus calculation starts from January 1 to April 30 each year. If the employment relationship lasted the entire period, the employee is entitled to half a monthly salary if paid by salary or fifteen daily wages if paid hourly. Specific rules apply for shorter durations or absences.