What is the Aguinaldo in Honduras?
The aguinaldo, also known as the thirteenth month bonus, is a mandatory Christmas bonus that all Honduran employers must pay to their workers. It is regulated by the Honduras Labor Code and represents a fundamental salary supplement for workers in the country.
Who is Entitled to the Aguinaldo?
Any worker with at least 3 months of continuous service with the same employer is entitled to receive the aguinaldo. This applies to both public and private sector workers, including domestic and temporary workers.
Unlike other Central American countries, in Honduras the aguinaldo is calculated based on the last monthly salary earned, not on an average of previous months.
How is it Calculated?
The calculation is straightforward:
- If you worked 12 full months: you receive 1 full month's salary
- If you worked less than 12 months: it's calculated proportionally → (months worked / 12) × monthly salary
Aguinaldo = (Months worked / 12) × Monthly salary
Payment Dates
- Payment period: December 5 to 20 each year
- Minimum requirement: 3 months of continuous service
- Failure to pay carries penalties for the employer
Keep your pay stubs to verify that your aguinaldo is correctly calculated based on your last salary earned.
Worked Examples
Example 1: full year
If your monthly salary is L 15,000 and you worked 12 months:
- Aguinaldo: L 15,000 (one full month's salary)
Example 2: proportional (8 months)
If your monthly salary is L 15,000 and you worked 8 months:
- Proportional aguinaldo: (8 / 12) × L 15,000 = L 10,000
Example 3: proportional (5 months)
With a salary of L 12,000 and 5 months worked:
- Aguinaldo: (5 / 12) × L 12,000 = L 5,000
Quick reference table (L 15,000 salary)
| Months worked | Proportion | Aguinaldo | |---|---|---| | 3 (minimum) | 3/12 | L 3,750 | | 6 | 6/12 | L 7,500 | | 9 | 9/12 | L 11,250 | | 12 | 12/12 | L 15,000 |
How to interpret the result
Because the base is the last salary earned, the bonus can vary significantly if you changed jobs or had a raise during the year. If your salary includes commissions or variable pay, confirm with your employer which monthly amount was used as the base; in case of dispute, the average of recent months may be considered. The aguinaldo is paid on top of your regular December salary, so December usually brings a larger paycheck.
This calculator is an educational estimate based on the general framework of the Honduras Labor Code. Labor regulations can be updated or interpreted differently in specific cases. Confirm amounts and rules with your employer, the Ministry of Labor, or a labor advisor.
Under current rules, the aguinaldo is generally exempt from Income Tax (ISR) in Honduras, meaning you normally receive the full amount without tax deductions. Rules can change and specific cases may differ, so verify with the official tax administration (SAR) or a tax advisor before relying on the exemption.
If you are terminated without just cause, you are entitled to receive the proportional aguinaldo for the time worked during the year, along with the rest of your labor benefits.
Yes, all workers in a dependent employment relationship are entitled to the aguinaldo, including domestic workers, as long as they meet the minimum 3 months of service requirement.
When the salary includes commissions or variable payments, the last monthly salary earned is used as the base. In case of dispute, the average of recent months may be considered.
The aguinaldo is calculated on the ordinary salary. Sporadic overtime is generally not included, but regular bonuses that form part of the salary may be considered.
Yes. Workers who resign or leave the job before December are entitled to the proportional aguinaldo for the months worked, as long as they meet the minimum 3 months of continuous service.
Related calculators
- Honduras net salary: take-home pay after deductions
- Honduras income tax: ISR withholding for salaries
- Honduras IHSS/RAP contributions: social security quotas
- Honduras employment settlement: final pay when the job ends