13th salary: What are the rights of the employees

An information campaign for the concession of the 13th salary where it is paid is carried out by the Ministry of Labor, Welfare and Social Insurance, which will be held between 3 and 17 December 2018.

In a statement, the Ministry of Labor states that this campaign is carried out in collaboration with the employers' organizations OEB and KEVE and the unions SEK, PEO and DEOK, noting that "within the campaign, advertising messages will be broadcast via radio stations and registrations will be made. on websites ".

The campaign, it is said, aims to inform employers and employees whether or not the non-payment of 13th salary is legal.

It is noted that the 13th salary, where it is paid, under a collective agreement or personal contract or as a business practice, is part of the employee's salary and therefore non-payment is equivalent to a violation of the provisions on the Protection of Wages Legislation.

"This, in addition to the rights that the Law provides to the employee for civil payment of his payment, constitutes a criminal offense and has as a consequence the criminal prosecution of the employer", he notes.

According to the provisions of this Law, in case of conviction of the employer, a prison sentence of up to 6 months or a fine of up to € 15.000 or both are imposed.

In addition, the competent Court can award the employees the amounts due to them that correspond to the 13th salary, according to the Ministry of Labor.