August 15, which this year (2024) coincides with a Thursday, has been designated by law as a compulsory public holiday (Article 193 PD 80/2022, Article 60 of Law 4808/2021). On days of mandatory holidays, the employment of employees and the operation of businesses is prohibited, except for those that legally operate on Sundays and during mandatory holidays.

As reported by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), through the Confederation’s Information Center for Employees & Unemployed (KE.P.E.A./GSEE), www.kepea.gr. the following applies to the pay of Thursday, August 15, 2024:

For businesses that are not operating

For businesses that are not operating, those who are paid a daily wage shall be paid, without any increase, their normal daily wage, and those who are paid a salary shall be paid their monthly wage.

For legally operating enterprises

Employees who will be employed are entitled to:

1) if they are paid a daily wage, their regular daily wage payable and an increase of 75%, which will be calculated on their legal hourly wage for the number of hours they are employed,

2) in the case where employees are paid a monthly salary:

a) if they are businesses that are late on Sundays and public holidays and will operate exceptionally on August 15, 1/25th of their normally paid salary is due and an additional increase of 75% on the legal daily wage for the number of hours worked,

b) in the case of businesses that operate legally on Sundays and other legal holidays, only a 75% surcharge is due, calculated at 1/25th of their legal daily wage for the number of hours worked.

In addition, employees should be aware that:

– It is not legal to offset a day of mandated rest (day off) with a day of a mandatory holiday.

– Employees who are on leave are also entitled to the daily wage on August 15, but this day is not counted as part of their working days of leave.

– If more favourable conditions (e.g. by collective labour agreement (CBA), work regulations, business custom or practice) apply with regard to pay increases for working on a mandatory holiday or Sunday, these conditions shall prevail.