Greek minimum wage rise boosts vacation pay for workers in 2026

From 1 April 2026 Greece’s statutory minimum wage will increase from €880 to €920 gross per month. Because vacation pay is tied to the regular wage, the change raises the entitlement for workers on the minimum wage. The new summer vacation allowance is calculated at half a monthly salary for monthly‑paid staff, reaching about €589.41 per employee, while daily‑paid workers can receive up to 15 daily wages, roughly €460 under the new minimum.

Employers must pay both the regular salary and the vacation allowance in advance at the start of the employee’s annual leave, and must grant the leave within two months of the worker’s request. If an employer fails to provide the requested leave, the law requires payment of the leave wages with a 100 % surcharge. The adjustment affects roughly 500 000 low‑wage private‑sector employees and about 800 000 public‑sector staff, as all wages linked to the minimum wage rise automatically.

The legislation also sets the maximum number of paid leave days – 20 days in the first year of employment, increasing to 22 days after two years and up to 26 days after 25 years of service – and requires at least half of a company’s workforce to take summer leave between 1 May and 30 September.