Employers will pay, in principle, the Christmas Bonus to employees at the time provided for by the relevant 1981 legislation, while afterwards and in a second year, employers will receive from the state the part of the Bonus corresponding to the duration of the suspension of employment contracts, calculated on the basis of 534 euros.

The basic formula, which is on the table of the Ministry of Labour is the Christmas bonus to be paid by employers to employees on time. Subsequently, the employer will receive from the state the part corresponding to the time of the contract suspensions, on top of the EUR 534 of the suspension. This was clarified by speaking to OPEN's morning show, «Now What's Happening», the Secretary General of the Ministry of Labour, Anna Stratinaki. It is recalled that the relevant EIA of 1981 provides that the Christmas gift is paid on 21 December, but “the employer may retain the amount of the allowance until 31 December without being able to pay it later”.

It is recalled that the Christmas Bonus is calculated according to the number of working days from May to the end of December. Those who have worked for the entire period receive the full 13th salary. When calculating the amount of the Christmas Bonus, the way in which the employees are paid is taken into account, i.e. whether they are paid on a daily wage or a salary. Η the period for which the Christmas bonus is calculated shall run from 1 May to 31 December each year. Thus, employees whose employment relationship with the employer lasted without interruption throughout the period mentioned above, i.e. from 1 May to 31 December each year, are entitled to the whole Gift equal to one (1) month's salary for those paid on a salary and 25 days' wages for those paid on a daily wage.

The provision adopted last September provides for:

The businesses – employers whose business activity has been suspended by order of a public authority, as well as undertakings - employers belonging to the sectors seriously affected by the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, shall pay the Christmas allowance at the time specified in the relevant Decree of 1981, i.e. on 21 December.
In the case where the employment contract of employees put in parole and the duration of the employment relationship, excluding periods of suspension, does not cover the entire period from 1 May to 31 December of the current year, the Christmas allowance is paid at a reduced rate, taking into account for its calculation the duration of the employment contract until its suspension.
In the case where the employment contract of employees put in parole, the amount of the Christmas bonus corresponding to the period of suspension of the employment contract shall be paid from the State budget. The 2020 Christmas allowance shall be calculated on the amount of the special allowance.
Seasonal workers shall be entitled to the amount of the Christmas bonus corresponding to the period for which they receive the special allowance provided for and paid from the State budget. The 2020 Christmas allowance shall be calculated on the amount of the special allowance.

Christmas gift, i.e. seasonal workers who have been suspended will also receive the allowance in proportion to the period for which they have been receiving the allowance special purpose of 534 euros per month. As provided for, employees whose employment contract is suspended are entitled to the Christmas bonus corresponding to the period of time during which they receive the special purpose allowance provided for, paid from the State budget. The 2020 Christmas allowance shall be calculated on the amount of the special allowance.

Finally, if the employment contract is suspended and the duration of the employment relationship, excluding periods of suspension, does not cover the entire period from 1^η May to 31 December of the current year, the Christmas allowance is paid at a reduced rate, in accordance with the relevant 1981 Decree, taking into account for its calculation the duration of the employment contract until the suspension of the