Minimum Wage
Workers can’t be paid lower than the minimum wage which is the lowest remuneration that an employer should pay to the employee. The minimum salaries of all employees should be determined upon terms provided by National General Collective Labour Agreement (NGCLA). The terms and condition of NGCLA will apply to all employer and employee irrespective of whether they are member of any trade union or employers union respectively.
The minimum wage in Greece is to be determined according to the terms of NGCLA. The minimum wage should be given to all workers whether they are working in public or private sector. This fact doesn’t effect on the minimum wage that either the employee or employer is member of a trade union or employers’ union.
Where an employer fails to pay due wages fully and regularly, the worker may file a complaint with the labour inspectorate (SEPE). SEPE is tasked with monitoring and implementation of all employment related legislation including payment of minimum wages. The workers may also file a case in the court for due wages. Moreover, the workers have the right to stop working if the wage payment is not full and is unduly delayed. Employment of a worker is secure during such abstention and he is paid his wages for the period.
Source: Law 4093/2012, enacted on November 12, 2012
Current minimum wage rates can be found in the Minimum Wage section.
Regular Pay
Greek legislation differentiates between the workers on the basis of job type. While white collar contract workers (intellectual work requiring specialized training and experience and requiring initiative) are paid monthly, the blue collar workers (manual work with clear tasks) are paid on daily basis.
It is considered a fundamental employer obligation to pay wages in time. However, there is no law in Greece requiring the employer to pay wages within specific time duration (five or ten days of their eligibility). It is generally assumed that unless the issue is settled under the employment contract or collective agreement, wages must be paid at regular intervals, either fortnightly or monthly.
Employers are required to main employee pay slips for at least previous 3 months. The special overtime (for more details on overtime, please refers to the section on overtime compensation) must also be maintained until the electronic notification to the ERGANI (compliance related information system) is made. Employers are required to file all wage data to calculate social security contribution.
Workers in Greece are entitled to 14-month pay in a year. This includes normal 12-month pay, one-month pay as a Christmas bonus; half a month pay as an Easter bonus; and half a month pay as an annual holiday bonus.
Wages must be paid in local currency, i.e., Euro and through bank transfer only, applicable only to the private sector employees. Non-compliance with this provision is subject to fines ranging from 300 to 50,000 euros. Deductions from workers’ wages are regulated under the law and an employer may deduct wages as income tax and social security contributions, trade union dues (after workers’ consent), contribution for occupational pensions, and for wages that were paid in advance. If there is a significant delay in wage payment (regardless of the reason of delay), employee can consider it equivalent to contract termination by employer and thus demand severance pay.
Employers are required to provide workers with wage slips including every deduction and referring to applicable minimum wage.
