Slovenia has passed a law under which all employees, in both the public and private sectors, will receive a mandatory Christmas bonus, no later than December 18.

The proposed amount is half of the gross minimum wage, which this year amounts to 639 euros, and the amount for companies is exempt from taxes and contributions. At the same time, the law allows companies in financial difficulty to pay a smaller amount or postpone payment until the end of March 2026, according to the portal RTV SLO.

Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon explained that the mandatory Christmas bonus will not be a one-time measure, but will also apply in future years, both in the public and private sectors. Companies that lack liquidity may pay employees only one-eighth of the minimum wage, or 160 euros, but in that case they may not pay dividends or bonuses to management.

Representatives of employers assessed the possibility of a reduced payment as a sign of the government's goodwill, but they are seeking additional clarifications and discussions in order to achieve greater transparency. The chief executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, Mitja Gorenšček, pointed out that companies want to keep the Christmas bonus as a voluntary supplement and increase the tax-free base, emphasizing the need for further negotiations.

On the other hand, trade unions expressed dissatisfaction with the possibility of a reduced Christmas bonus, believing that all employees should receive the same amount. Representatives of the Pergam Confederation of Trade Unions warned that different amounts would lead to inequality among employees and that the amounts must not depend on the employer's business decisions. Of particular concern is the fact that the payment of smaller amounts could affect rights from social transfers.

In the public sector, the Christmas bonus will be paid in full, and according to estimates by the Ministry of Finance, the total cost of payments to public employees will amount to 118 million euros, while the broader long-term effect on the budget, including the loss of taxes and contributions, could reach 372 million euros. The government emphasized that the first Christmas bonus amount will not affect rights from social transfers in order to prevent negative consequences for households.

Negotiations between the government and employers have not yet been completed, and a new session of the Economic and Social Council is expected at the end of October. The law should enter into force until amendments to the Labour Act, which will systematically regulate the issue of the mandatory Christmas bonus, while at the same time the law also provides for the payment of a special winter supplement for pensioners.