Yes, it is mandatory. Article 14 of Law No. 5953 provides that journalists receive, at the end of each year of service, a bonus of at least one month's wage as the proportionate return of the profit made by the employer that falls to their labour.
The Phrase "Tied to Profit" Is Misleading
The wording describes the bonus as the counterpart of profit; but the decisive part of the sentence is "of at least one month's wage". Whatever the profit, there is a floor below which the payment cannot fall.
In practice this is a guaranteed payment in the nature of a 13th month salary. If profit is high the amount may be more; if there is no profit the floor is still one month's wage.
| Subject | Law 5953 (journalist) | Law 4857 (worker) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual bonus | Statutory obligation — at least one month's wage | No statutory obligation; depends on the contract or workplace practice |
When Is It Paid?
The article ties payment to the end of each year of service — not the end of the calendar year, but the date on which the journalist's year of service is completed. On a staff hired at different dates, the payment dates differ too.
The Bonus Also Goes Through the Bank
The paragraph added to Article 14 by Law No. 5754 provides that, for employers within the scope of the obligation, the wage and the bonus cannot be paid without being deposited into a bank account. Paying the bonus in cash does not discharge this obligation.
Bottom Line
Paying a journalist a bonus of at least one month's wage at the end of each year of service is a statutory obligation with no equivalent in Law 4857. The payment is tied to the service-year anniversary, is made through a bank, and is subject to social security premiums.
Payment timing is covered in the wage timing article, and the full comparison of the two statutes in the differences article.
Social Security Premiums
The same article makes payment of the social security premiums on additional payments mandatory. The bonus cannot be left out of the premium base.