The private sector begins payment of K-15, minimum amount for 2026 reaches 19,116 denars

Private companies can now begin paying the annual wage compensation known as K-15, while the minimum amount set for 2026 is 19,116 denars.

This minimum amount is determined on the basis of the average net salary for the months of February, March and April of this year, which is calculated at around 47,790 denars.

In line with the General Collective Agreement for the Private Sector, the minimum K-15 amounts to 40 percent of this base.

Employees in the private sector who have at least six months of uninterrupted work with the same employer during the calendar year are entitled to this compensation. If this is предусмотрено by a collective agreement or by an internal company act, the employer may also grant a higher amount.

In special cases, companies operating at a loss or facing financial difficulties may pay less or be exempted from this obligation, but only if they meet the legal conditions and possess the relevant documentation and decisions adopted in accordance with the regulations in force.

Failure to pay the compensation required by law may expose employers to inspections and fines.

For their part, workers have the right to file a complaint with the State Labour Inspectorate or seek their rights through the courts.

The right to the annual wage remains a legal right of workers, stemming from collective bargaining and the labour regulations in force.