There has been an overwhelming response and interest from hundreds of Employee Unions and public sector workers — including those in municipalities, hospitals, ministries, education, and the broader public sector — regarding the judicial pursuit of retroactive payments of the 13th and 14th salaries.
This comes in the wake of broader and significant developments surrounding the reinstatement of the 13th and 14th salaries, currently pending before the Plenary Session of the Council of State (StE), with a pilot hearing scheduled in approximately two months (June 6, 2025). The case is attracting great attention from labor unions (with ADEDY having formally intervened) and from hundreds of thousands of public sector employees.
During the financial crisis, the Greek government first cut and eventually abolished the Christmas, Easter, and holiday bonuses for public sector workers, as part of its obligations under the bailout programs. The removal of the 13th and 14th salaries, alongside broader wage reductions, placed severe economic pressure on public employees, contributing to financial suffocation for many.
However, Greece has now exited the bailout regime and is showing signs of economic growth, recently even making an early repayment of €8 billion in debt. This “post-bailout era” changes the legal and financial landscape in favor of public employees, particularly regarding the 13th and 14th salaries in the Greek public sector. Although the government has not politically reinstated these payments, two major developments are opening the way for their judicial restoration — both for permanent civil servants and fixed- or indefinite-term contract employees:
- 1. On June 6, 2025, the Plenary Session of the Council of State is set to hear a pilot case concerning the reinstatement of the 13th and 14th salaries. ADEDY has already intervened in this case, and it is of massive interest to all workers’ unions. The decision is expected to set the tone for future claims and determine the financial rights of those public employees who file legal actions.
- 2. The Union of Judges and Prosecutors, in an open letter to the competent Minister, has officially raised the issue of reinstating the 13th and 14th salaries in the public sector. The union emphasized that the justification for their abolition no longer exists in the post-memorandum period, and that these bonuses, still in effect in the private sector, should also remain active in the public sector.
Important Legal Note:
Participation in the pilot case before the Council of State does not secure retroactive compensation for all public employees — only for those directly involved in the case. Therefore, in order to be legally and financially protected, each public sector worker must file an individual or group lawsuit before the June 6, 2025 hearing.
In practical terms, only those who have submitted a lawsuit by that date will be eligible to claim the retroactive payments (13th and 14th salaries and related bonuses).
With a well-prepared legal filing and detailed financial calculations, it is possible to claim two full salaries per year, which may amount to €6,000 to €10,000 in total.
For detailed information on group lawsuits for retroactive claims of the 13th and 14th salaries, click here.
