The suspension of a worker by the Guatemalan Institute of Social Security (IGSS) does not interrupt the employment relationship or affect the right to payment of Bonus 14, As explained to this medium by a labor inspector of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (Mintrab) consulted on the subject.
According to the criteria applied by the labor authority, the continuity of the employment relationship is maintained even when the worker has been suspended by disease, maternity either accident.
What the law says about job continuity
The analysis carried out by the inspector to Free press It is based on article 3 of Decree 76-78, Regulatory Law of Bonus, which establishes that the continuity of work is not interrupted by leaves with or without pay, nor by individual or collective suspensions.
This principle is also reinforced in article 5 of Decree 42-92, Annual Bonus Law for Private and Public Sector Workers, which indicates that the rules of the bonus are applied in a supplementary manner – in other words, the employee who is still suspended maintains the criterion of job continuity – for the calculation of the Bonus 14.
Does suspended time count towards Bonus 14?
Yes. According to the interpretation of the Mintrab inspector, the time that a worker remains suspended by the IGSS It should be considered as continuous time of employment relationship.
In practice this means that:
- Suspension due to illness, maternity or accident does not reduce Bonus 14
- The suspended period Yes, it is included in the calculation to pay Bonus 14
- The employee does not lose seniority
It is important to clarify that the Bonus calculation 14 is done based on the average of the ordinary wages earned by the worker during the period understood from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
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If you have not worked the complete cycle, payment corresponds proportional to the time actually worked within that period.
Who pays Bonus 14 during the suspension?
According to the inspector of the ministry and based on the law, Bonus 14 remains the responsibility of the employer, since it is a labor benefit derived from the employment contract.
He IGSS It only covers financial benefits for disability or suspension, but does not replace labor obligations such as the payment of annual bonuses.
A few days from payment of Bonus 14, This clarification is relevant for thousands of workers who this year faced suspensions due to illness, maternity or accidents.
If you have any questions about the calculation or payment of the Bonus 14workers can go to the Ministry of Labor for guidance and verification compliance with their labor rights.