Greece sets holiday pay rules for August 15, 2026
The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), through its Center for Information of Workers and Unemployed (KE.P.E.A.), has detailed how private‑sector employees will be compensated for the mandatory public holiday on 15 August 2026. The day is a compulsory holiday under article 60 of Law 4808/2021 and article 203 of PD 62/2025, and employment is generally prohibited except for businesses that are legally allowed to operate on Sundays and holidays.
For businesses that remain closed, workers on a five‑day workweek paid daily wages receive an extra daily wage, while salaried staff receive their regular monthly salary. Workers on a six‑day workweek receive their normal daily wage (six days per week) and salaried staff also receive the regular monthly salary. In businesses that operate legally on the holiday, employees working on 15 August receive their usual daily wage plus a 75 % premium on the legal hourly rate; salaried employees receive a 75 % premium calculated on 1/25 of the legal monthly salary for the hours worked. If the Saturday work constitutes a sixth day for five‑day workers, the shift may not exceed eight hours and the wage is further increased by an additional 40 % on top of the 75 % premium. Should a normally closed enterprise operate exceptionally on the holiday, salaried workers get a 1/25 salary premium and daily‑wage workers receive an extra daily wage together with the 75 % holiday premium.
Entities: Center for Information of Workers and Unemployed (KE.P.E.A.) · General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] 15 August 2026 is a mandatory public holiday in Greece under article 60 of Law 4808/2021 and article 203 of PD 62/2025. (GSEE)
- [● 3 SOURCES] In businesses that legally operate on the holiday, employees working on 15 August receive their usual daily wage plus a 75 % premium on the legal hourly rate. (GSEE)
- [● 3 SOURCES] If Saturday work is the sixth day for five‑day workers, the shift may not exceed eight hours and the wage is further increased by an additional 40 % on top of the 75 % premium. (GSEE)
- [● 3 SOURCES] In closed businesses, five‑day workers paid daily wages receive an extra daily wage; salaried workers receive their regular monthly salary. (GSEE)
- [● 3 SOURCES] If a normally closed business operates exceptionally on the holiday, salaried workers get a 1/25 salary premium and daily‑wage workers receive an extra daily wage plus the 75 % holiday premium. (GSEE)
- [● 3 SOURCES] In closed businesses, six‑day workers paid daily wages receive their normal daily wage; salaried workers receive their regular monthly salary. (GSEE)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Employment on the holiday is prohibited for most private‑sector businesses, except those legally allowed to operate on Sundays and holidays. (GSEE)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Salaried employees in legally operating businesses receive a 75 % premium calculated on 1/25 of the legal monthly salary for the hours worked on the holiday. (GSEE)