Greece Council of State rejects 13th and 14th month salaries

The Council of State (StE) has issued a final ruling (1201/2026) rejecting the reinstatement of the 13th and 14th month salaries for public sector employees in Greece. The court's decision stated that the non-provision of these bonuses does not jeopardize the ‘decent living’ of wage earners.

This ruling has drawn sharp criticism from labor organizations. The ADEEDY Pieria union described the decision as a monument to ‘legal cynicism,’ arguing that the court's definition of dignity ignores the reality of workers—such as nurses, teachers, and administrative staff—who face high costs of living and inflation on limited monthly wages.

Similarly, the Association of Hospital Doctors of Athens (EINAP) reacted strongly, noting that the government frequently cites ‘fiscal resilience’ and EU constraints to deny fair wage claims. EINAP highlighted the disparity between the increasing cost of living and the stagnant earnings of medical professionals, calling for the removal of austerity-era laws to address these economic grievances.