COUNTRY

Employment contracts in Georgia must be written and include the nature of the work, job description, salary, overtime, work hours, annual leave, other types of leave and clauses such as termination, notice and probation periods. Both parties must sign the contract. Employers can request a candidate’s basic personal information, criminal record background, driving record, credit check, previous employment details and a reference.

The standard workweek in Georgia is 40 hours with eight hours in a day. However, the overtime must not exceed 48 hours in a week. Overtime in Georgia is paid at the 150% of the basic salary. The duration of rest between working days must be at least 12 hours. Employees aged 16 to 18 can only work up to 36 hours a week, while those aged 14 to 16 can only work 26 hours a week. Nursing mothers get an extra hour break to take care of their child.

Employees in Georgia are entitled to disability benefits for 40 consecutive days, or a total of 60 days within a six-month period, if they are unable to work due to illness. The employer is responsible for paying the benefit.

Female employees receive 126 days of maternity leave in Georgia. The employee decides how much leave to take before her due date and how much after the birth. If she gives birth to more than one child or the birth has complications, the maternity leave is 183 days. Maternity leave is paid for by social security.

Georgia has a minimum wage. Bonuses are not required.

Employees in Georgia receive 24 days of paid annual leave and a further 15 days of unpaid leave annually. Employees must have at least 11 months of service with their employer to take both paid and unpaid leave.

In Georgia, the public holidays are:

• New Year's Day

• Second day of New Year's

• Orthodox Christmas Day

• Orthodox Epiphany

• Mothers' Day

• International Women's Day

• Independence Restoration Day

• Orthodox Good Friday

• Orthodox Holy Saturday

• Orthodox Easter Sunday

• Orthodox Easter Monday

• Victory Day

• St. Andrew's Day

• Independence Day

• Day of the Assumption of Mary

• Svetitskhovloba

• St. George's Day

Georgia has universal healthcare. Although the system is mainly funded by the state, most health care is delivered by private providers.

The probation period in Georgia is capped at six months, during which the employer can terminate the employee or cancel the contract.

Employees can be suspended for strike action and they can be terminated for poor performance, end of a contract, misconduct, mutual agreement, death of the employee or economic reasons.

Employees can be terminated for a long-term disability if the disability is longer than 40 consecutive days or 60 days within six months, and if the employee has used their sick leave. The employer must give 30 days of notice and pay one month of severance within 30 days after terminating the agreement.

In Georgia, the notice period is 30 days and the severance pay is at least one month.