Greece: Wage rules clarified for August 15 holiday

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) has issued clarifications regarding wage compensation for private sector employees during the August 15 holiday, which falls on a Saturday in 2026.

For businesses that do not operate on the holiday, employees on a five-day work week who do not work will receive an additional daily wage if paid daily, while monthly salaried employees will receive their regular monthly salary. For those on a six-day work week, daily earners will receive their standard proportional daily wage.

In businesses that legally operate during holidays, employees who work are entitled to a 75% pay increase. If a five-day system employee works on Saturday as their sixth day of the week, the work is limited to 8 hours, and the daily wage receives an additional 40% increase. Furthermore, the holiday cannot be offset against a day off, and employees on leave are entitled to the holiday pay without reducing their leave balance.