There are only a few days left for the “first anniversary“ of the salary increase for weekend and night work and the HR costs of employers will raise once again.

On 1 May 2019, the transitional period will expire and the approved changes will apply to the full extent.

What does it mean?

• On Saturdays, the employee is entitled to a salary premium in the amount of at least 50% of the minimum salary per hour (currently EUR 2,989).
• If the nature of work or operation conditions requires the work to be regularly performed on Saturdays, the lower sum of such salary premium may be agreed upon (in the collective agreement or labor contract), however, the percentage must not be lower than 45%. Those companies, in which trade unions do not operate, do not have collective agreements, nor employ more than 20 employees will not have the option to "save" the difference of 5 percent.
• On Sundays, the salary premium is even higher, at least 100% of the statutory minimum salary per hour. Similar to Saturday work, those facilities that meet the above-mentioned requirements will have the option to reduce the supplement to 90% of the statutory minimum salary per hour.
• For night work, the salary premium will be applied in the amount of at least 40% of the statutory minimum salary per hour and the employee who conducts a risky job will receive the salary premium of 50% of the statutory minimum salary per hour.
• If the employee does not perform a „risky work“ (as defined by relevant legislation), a reduction to 35% of the minimum salary per hour can be agreed upon, under the same conditions as for the weekend work.

Let's just hope that we will not see any further increases in salary premiums in the pre-election year.