On Tuesday, September 15, Slovakia will celebrate the Day of Our Lady of Sorrows, but for most workers, this will not be an automatic day off. This day, like May 8, is recognized as a holiday only for wage payment purposes, not as a day of rest. This means that many of you will likely go to work but have the right to a significant salary bonus.
What does this mean for you?
If you work on September 15, you are entitled to an extra payment of at least 100% of your average earnings. This decision by the government of Robert Fico, made in 2025, was part of measures to consolidate public finances. The goal was to increase the number of working days to stimulate the economy. However, as experience from May 8 showed, many companies tried to avoid high labor costs by giving workers leave or limiting activities.
The National Labor Inspectorate confirms that for work on September 15, the employee receives their regular salary plus an additional payment of at least 100% of the average earnings. Instead of extra pay, you can agree with your employer to take an additional day off.
Is it a day off?
No, September 15 is not an automatic day off. If you want to stay home, you generally need to take annual leave (dovolenka) or another form of agreed time off. The Slovak government even insisted that keeping the bonuses was a deliberate decision despite canceling the non-working day status.
Ambiguity and consequences
This situation creates some confusion for employers. Some companies decided to operate normally, while others gave workers days off to avoid extra costs. Even government institutions do not have a unified approach. For example, the Government Office initially recommended taking leave, but later an additional collective agreement was made allowing employees to take official leave with salary compensation.
The Budget Responsibility Council expressed doubts that this decision will bring the expected economic effect, as companies may simply keep workers at home instead of increasing production. The Ministry of Finance, however, continues to claim that this has a positive impact on public finances.
For Ukrainians in Slovakia, it is important to know your rights and obligations regarding work on holidays. Always clarify work and payment conditions with your employer.
