Greece Easter Holidays 2026: What workers need to know about pay and public closures

Workers and businesses in Greece are being reminded of their rights and obligations during the 2026 Easter period, as guidance issued by the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) and its Information Center for Employees and the Unemployed (KEPEA) clarifies holiday schedules, pay rules, and legal protections.

📅 Key Easter Dates and Work Rules
Good Friday (April 10, 2026)
Classified as a mandatory half-day holiday for retail stores, which must remain closed until 1:00 PM.
For other private-sector businesses, it is not automatically a statutory holiday unless defined by collective agreements, company policy, or established custom.
Holy Saturday (April 11, 2026)
Considered a regular working day for employees who normally work Saturdays, unless otherwise specified by company rules or agreements.
Easter Sunday (April 12, 2026)
Falls under standard Sunday labor restrictions, meaning most businesses must remain closed and employment is generally prohibited.
Easter Monday (April 13, 2026)
A mandatory public holiday for all businesses under Greek law.
 
💰 Pay Rules for Working on Holidays
Employees who legally work on Sundays or public holidays are entitled to additional compensation:

Daily wage workers:

Receive their standard daily wage plus a 75% bonus calculated on their legal hourly rate.

Monthly salaried employees:

Entitled to a 75% wage increase, calculated on 1/25 of their monthly salary for hours worked.

Compensatory rest (day off):

Employees working more than 5 hours on a Sunday are also entitled to an alternative rest day during the week.
For Easter Monday, stricter rules apply:

• Businesses that remain closed must still pay employees their regular wages without bonus.
• Those operating legally must provide:Daily wage + 75% bonus, or
• For salaried employees, either:75% bonus (if business normally operates on holidays), or
• 1/25 of salary plus 75% bonus (if opening exceptionally)
   

⚖️ Legal Framework and Employer Obligations

Greek labor law strictly regulates work during holidays, including provisions under the Individual Labour Law Code (Presidential Decree 62/2025). Key points include:

• Work is generally prohibited on Sundays and public holidays, except for legally exempt sectors.
• Holiday days cannot be offset with regular rest days.
• Public holidays are not counted as part of annual leave.
• Employers violating holiday labor laws face severe fines and potential criminal liability.
   

🎁 Easter Bonus Deadline
Employers are required to pay the Easter bonus to employees by Holy Wednesday (April 8, 2026). Workers can calculate their entitled amount through KEPEA’s official online platform.