Economist Ljubo Jurčić proposes that every worker in Croatia should have the right to a Christmas bonus of at least 400 euros net.

He believes that the payment should be prescribed by law for employers in the public and private sectors. Borko Brunović writes about his proposal for net.hr, relaying statements from the RTL Direkt report.

Jurčić cites Slovenia as an example, which made the Christmas bonus a legal obligation. He believes that Croatia can do the same if there is political will for it. He described the proposed amount with the words: ‘Minimum Christmas bonus 400 euros per worker. Net.’ This would mean at least 400 euros that the worker actually receives, in addition to the regular salary.

In Slovenia, the payment already exists as an obligation

Slovenian employers must pay a winter allowance from 2025, a benefit that is often called a Christmas bonus. Its full legal amount corresponds to half of the minimum wage, or approximately 740 euros this year. In Croatia, such a general obligation has not yet been introduced, so the amounts and payment practices vary considerably. For example, net.hr cites a Christmas bonus of 500 euros at HEP, 350 euros at Fina, and 300 euros in the ministries.

For now a proposal, not a guaranteed payment

Jurčić’s 400 euros is for now a proposal, not a new workers’ right. If such a minimum were introduced, the biggest change would be felt by employees who currently receive nothing or receive less than that amount. For implementation, specific rules would also need to be determined, including the rights of workers employed for only part of the year and the payment deadline.