COUNTRY

An employment contract in Belarus must be written and there must be two copies. All pages must be signed. The employment contract must include:

• both parties’ names and addresses,

• workplace location,

• responsibilities,

• work hours, probation period,

• start date,

• annual leave,

• other types of leave, and

• salary.

It must also include the probation period. Employers can use fixed-term employment contracts, which must have a start and end date. These contracts end when the contract is complete if the specific task has been finished or if the climate ends seasonal work. Permanent contracts must have a start date but do not need an end date.

The standard workweek in Belarus is 40 hours over five days. Overtime is capped at 180 hours a year, 10 hours a week and paid at 200% of the basic rate.

Employees on sick leave in Belarus receive a percentage of their salary for the first 12 days of illness and then 100% beyond that. The employer is responsible for paying this leave.

Female employees receive 126 days of maternity leave in Belarus. which increases to 140 days in the event of complications or multiple births. Female employees also receive three years of unpaid maternity leave during which her position is secured. Maternity leave is covered by social security.

Male employees can request 30 days of unpaid leave. There is no paid paternity leave in Belarus.

Employees in Belarus are entitled to a minimum monthly wage. Bonuses are common, as is a 13th month of pay, although this is not required by law.

Employees receive 24 days of paid annual leave in Belarus.

In Belarus, the public holidays are:

• New Year's Day

• Second day of New Year’s holiday

• Orthodox Christmas Day

• Women's Day

• Labor Day

• Victory Day

• Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus

• October Revolution Day

• Catholic Christmas Day

• Radonitsa

Belarus provides public healthcare. However, it is common for employers to offer supplementary private healthcare.

The notice period for terminating an employee in Belarus is two months. Commonly, employers and employees agree to a one-month notice period in employment contracts. Severance pay is capped at two weeks and is paid if the employee refuses to be relocated for work, is unwell, lacks the necessary qualifications or is called up for military service. It increases to three months for redundancies or bankruptcy.