The idea of the 13th salary misses goal for now

A minimum of companies paid the extra holiday salary, claims consultancy firm

(Source: TASR)

Only a minimum of companies used the opportunity to reward their employees with a 13th holiday salary, to be part of their June salary this year. The audit and tax consultant Grant Thornton Slovakia came to the conclusion based on its analysis.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

“Of all our clients operating in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors, less than 5 percent were able to take advantage of this opportunity,” said the tax partner of Grant Thornton, Silvia Hallová. “I estimate that less than 3 percent of companies in Slovakia provided holiday pay as the 13th salary under the new system.”

SkryťTurn off ads

The bad setting of conditions is the main reason why the idea of 13th and 14th salaries do not work. These are benefits employees receive before the summer and Christmas holidays. Holiday and Christmas bonuses are exempt from the payment of health insurance levies only for now. This means that an employer may save only up to €16.20 when paying a €500 holiday salary.

Read also: Workers will earn more for night shifts, weekends and holidays Read more 

Holiday and Christmas bonuses will be exempt from income tax only as of 2019 and from social insurance levels as of 2021.

“The introduction of the so-called entitlement to the 13th and 14th salary, therefore, proved to be a purely propagandistic step,” said Hallová.

Wilfried Serles, managing partner at Grant Thornton Slovakia, points out that the burden of taxes and social insurance contributions in Slovakia is higher than in Austria, i.e. a country considered to be one with high taxes.

SkryťTurn off ads

“If the government really wants to increase the income of people, it has to reduce the burden of taxes and social insurance contributions,” said Serles, managing partner at Grant Thornton Slovakia. “Any other measure is only a show without a final effect.”

Top stories

Foreigners' Police Department on Regrútska 4, Bratislava-Vajnory.

News digest: 20 questions for Foreigners' Police

New Zealand citizen assaulted in Bratislava, ex-interior minister taken to court, and another 'History Talks' edition.


12 h
Volkswagen will make all-electric versions of the Porsche Cayenne luxury SUV.

News Digest: Volkswagen Slovakia to produce all-electric luxury SUV

LGBT+ minority could face new difficulties, a suspect is charged in the Daniel Tupý murder case.


24. mar
Filip Toška holding chard in the hydroponic Hausnatura farm.

How a Mayan doomsday prophecy took a Slovak to hi-tech agriculture

Hydroponic farm run out of former telephone exchange.


9. mar
Bratislava Foreigners' Police department.

FAQ: How to interact with the Foreigners’ Police

Some officers are good – but some, even the police admit, are ‘a disgrace to the force’.


15 h
SkryťClose ad