The yearly Christmas bonus for private-sector employees must be paid no later than December 21, 2024. The provisions of the Christmas bonus are specific, as stipulated in the National General Labor Code of 2010 and the Individual Labor Law Code.
How much is the bonus?
- The Christmas bonus is a one-time bonus equal to about one month’s salary, calculated based both on an employee’s wages and the amount of time they have worked for an employer.
Who is eligible for the bonus?
- All private-sector employees, regardless of their employment type (fixed/indefinite, full/part-time), are entitled to the Christmas bonus.
- Unemployed individuals receiving unemployment benefits are also eligible
How is the bonus calculated?
The bonus is based on one’s employment between May 1 and December 31, 2024:
- Full-time employees receive one month’s salary or 25 days’ wages depending on if they are paid on a monthly or daily basis.
- However, those of the above employees, whose relationship with the employer did not last the entire period of time (from 1/5 to 31/12), are entitled to receive a portion of the gift proportional to the duration of their employment relationship.
- Employees with shorter employment periods receive a proportionate bonus: 2/25 of the monthly salary or 2 days’ wages for every 19 calendar days worked.
The bonus is based on a worker’s wage
- The amount is determined by the employee’s regular wages as of December 10, 2024, or the final wage if employment ended earlier.
- Regular wages include salary, daily wage, and other consistent benefits (e.g., food, housing).
Unemployed Individuals:
- DYPA (formerly OAED) will pay the Christmas bonus to eligible beneficiaries in the first ten days of December.
- Long-term unemployed individuals and those no longer receiving unemployment benefits are not eligible.
- Payments are made via direct deposit and typically appear in accounts within 3 business days.
