EU Court to rule on Greek public sector 13th and 14th month salary claims

The legal dispute regarding the 13th and 14th month salaries for Greek public sector employees has been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Luxembourg. This development follows a recent rejection by the Greek Council of State, but a new judicial path has opened via a preliminary ruling request from the Kilkis Court of First Instance.

The case (C-599/2026) stems from a class-action lawsuit filed by employees of the Kilkis Hospital concerning the period 2023–2025. The central legal question is whether the discrepancy in remuneration between the private sector, which receives 14 monthly payments, and the public sector, which receives 12, is compatible with European Union law.

Legal representatives argue that a positive ruling from the CJEU would be binding on all Greek courts, potentially overriding previous domestic decisions. Lawyers involved in the case are advising public employees to file formal lawsuits to preserve their claims.