MÁV employees salaries increase 2026: pay and benefits package

MÁV employees salaries increase 2026 after Hungarian railway company MÁV, trade unions and the Hungarian state agreed to add to the existing three-year wage agreement. The package raises overall incomes by up to 13% and was announced in Budapest on January 19, as reported by RailwayPro.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

MÁV employees salaries increase 2026 under a two-stage base pay plan

In the final year of the three-year wage agreement, base salaries will rise in two stages in 2026. First, the initially planned 4.7% increase applies in January and February 2026. Then, in March, a further 4.7% rise is due. Taken together, this means base salaries will be 9.6% higher than the current level, according to a MÁV Group announcement.

SZÉP card annual contribution increase and other benefits

The deal also widens the scope of non-salary benefits. Under the SZÉP card annual contribution increase, the yearly amount goes from 120,000 forints (312 EUR) to 400,000 forints (1,040 EUR), and the change will be included in the collective labor agreement.

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The benefit is planned to be paid in two equal installments: 200,000 forints (520 EUR) in March 2026 and 200,000 forints (520 EUR) in July 2026, as noted by Világgazdaság (vg.hu).

Health funds employer contribution increase and loyalty bonus

From January 1, 2026, the agreement provides for a health funds employer contribution increase, lifting the monthly net contribution from 4,000 forints (10 EUR) to 7,000 forints (18 EUR). The loyalty bonus remains unchanged at 350,000 forints (910 EUR) and is again due to be paid in December.

The updated wage and benefits package was concluded by employee representatives, MÁV group management and the Ministry of Construction and Transport, which exercises the rights of the Hungarian state as owner. The parties said the measures are intended to maintain and increase employees’ purchasing power in an economic environment shaped by inflationary pressures.

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