Mandatory December Bonuses: Global Employer Obligations for 2025

Discover which countries require a 13th-month or Christmas bonus in December 2025, with payment dates, methods, and legal notes.

In some countries, employers are legally required to pay a mandatory bonus, often called a “13th month salary,” “SAC,” or “Christmas bonus”, at the end of the calendar year. This article outlines:

1. Which countries have mandatory December bonuses,
2. Whether the bonus is paid with the salary or separately, and
3. The applicable payment dates.

If a country does not appear in the table, it means that no mandatory December bonus applies.

Latin America

Europe

Africa

Asia-Pacific