Georgia

Employment Contracts

Employment contracts 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.

Public Holidays

• New Year’s Day
• Orthodox Christmas Day
• Orthodox Epiphany
• Mother’s Day
• International Women’s Day
• National Unity Day
• Orthodox Easter Sunday
• Orthodox Easter Monday
• Victory Day
• Independence Day
• Mariamoba (Assumption)
• Svetitskhovloba (Georgian Orthodox Festival)
• Giorgoba (St George’s Day)

Compensation

There is no minimum wage, nor is there a requirement to provide bonuses although some employers do.

Working Hours

The standard workweek 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 12 hours.

Employees aged 16 to 18 years old can only work up to 36 hours a week, while those aged 14 to 16 years old can only work 26 hours a week. Nursing mothers shall get an extra hour break to take care of the child.

Vacation Leave

Employees receive 24 days of paid annual leave and a further 15 days of unpaid leave annually if they have at least 11 months of service. If the employee is terminated before using their annual leave, then they receive their unused leave as a payment.

Employees can also carry over their annual leave if they have the permission of the employer. Those working in hazardous environments receive an extra 10 days of leave annually.

Sick Leave

Employees receive two weeks of unpaid leave a year to care for a child until they reach five years old.

Maternity / Paternity Leave

Female employees receive 730 days of maternity leave and childcare leave. The employee receives 183 calendar days of paid maternity and childcare leave, or 200 calendar days for multiple births. Employees receive 550 days of adoption leave and 90 days is covered by social security.

Maternity leave is paid for by social security. However, some employers may offer extra payments.

Employment Termination / Severance

The probation period 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 upon terminating the agreement. The notice period is 30 days and the severance pay is at least one month.

Health Insurance Benefits

There is no mandatory health insurance and most citizens opt-in a local provider or purchase private healthcare.