13th Month Salary in Europe: Which Countries Pay Additional Months

• Countries with Mandatory 13th Month Payments
• Calculation Methods and Special Employment Cases

Southern European countries lead in 13th month salary provisions. Italy mandates the tredicesima (13th month), typically paid in December as a one-time bonus equaling approximately one month's salary. Spain similarly guarantees pagas extras—two additional months (usually in July and December), effectively creating a 14-month annual salary structure. Portugal requires two additional months alongside the standard 12, with specific legal frameworks governing payment timing.

France, Belgium, and some regional agreements in Germany and Austria include 13th month provisions, though these are often negotiated through collective labor agreements rather than being universally mandatory. Romania requires 13th month payments in certain sectors and professions, particularly in state employment and regulated industries. France's system includes various bonuses and thirteenth-month provisions that vary by sector.

The legal status differs by country: In Italy and Spain, 13th/14th months are statutory rights enforceable regardless of company performance. In other nations, these payments may be contingent on profitability or annual performance metrics. Employees terminating employment mid-year typically receive pro-rated 13th month payments calculated on months worked.

The 13th month calculation typically uses one of two methods: the linear approach divides annual gross salary by 13 months, while the proportional method divides by 12 and allocates one-twelfth for the 13th payment. In Italy, the tredicesima is often calculated using the average of fixed monthly salary, excluding variable components unless contractually stipulated. Some agreements include bonuses or performance metrics in the calculation, while others specify only base salary.

Part-time and seasonal workers receive pro-rated 13th month payments calculated on the proportion of the year worked. For instance, an employee working 8 months receives 8/12ths of the annual 13th month entitlement. Similarly, employees with interrupted contracts or unpaid leave periods may have their 13th month reduced proportionally. Termination mid-year triggers complex calculations to ensure workers receive fair compensation for the actual months worked.

Collective labor agreements often provide supplementary rules: some include bonus structures beyond the base 13th month, while others exclude certain income types. Overtime pay, commissions, and travel allowances may or may not be included depending on sector-specific negotiations. Companies must comply with whichever is most favorable to employees—the statutory minimum or the negotiated collective agreement.