Employer of Record in Belarus

Businesses can only operate smoothly in Belarus if they comply with local labor laws including drafting compliant employment contract agreements and meeting taxation and payroll obligations. Learn more about the employment laws and regulations in Belarus below, to avoid any compliance issues.

Employment Contract Requirements

The country's labor code undergoes regular updates, with significant amendments introduced in 2020. Contracts are required to be in Russian or Belarusian and can be bilingual. It is mandatory for contracts to be in written form and duly signed by both parties. Key components that must be included in an employment contract are:

• Details of the employing organization and the employee
• Terms of employment
• Salary
• Leave
• Working hours
• Termination
• Social security and benefits
• Employer and Employee rights and obligations
• Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements

Onboarding Process

We can help you get a new employee started in Belarus quickly, with a minimum onboarding time of just 1-2 working days. The timeline starts once the employee submits all required information onto the Playroll platform and completes any necessary local authority registrations. For non-nationals, the Right to Work assessment (if applicable) may add up to three extra days. Additional time may be needed for follow-ups on this assessment. Please note, payroll cut-off dates can impact the actual start date. Playroll's payroll cut-off date is the 10th of each month unless otherwise specified.

Working Hours in Belarus

The regular workweek is 40 hours or 8 hours per day. The maximum allowed hours in a day, including overtime, is 12 hours.

Overtime in Belarus

Overtime in Belarus should not go beyond 10 hours per week or 180 hours per year. It is compensated at a rate of 200% of the regular salary. Alternatively, employers can choose to provide a monthly overtime bonus or extra time off instead of the additional payment.

Probation Period in Belarus

Employers have the option to set a probationary period lasting up to 3 months.

Fiscal Year in Belarus

1 January- 31 December is the 12-month accounting period that businesses in Belarus use for financial and tax reporting purposes.

Payroll Cycle in Belarus

The payroll cycle in Belarus is usually monthly, with employees being paid at the beginning of the following month.

Minimum Wage in Belarus

The minimum wage for employees in Belarus is typically 3.91 BYN per hour, amounting to ~626 BYN per month for a typical 40 hour work week.

Bonus Payments in Belarus

Bonuses and a 13th-month salary are common but not legally required. If given, the agreement for the 13th-month salary would be stated in the employee's contract.

Employer Tax Contributions

Employer payroll contributions are generally estimated at an additional 34% + contribution ranging from 0.10% - 1.00% for obligatory insurance for work-related injuries and occupational illnesses on top of the employee salary in Belarus.

Employee Payroll Tax Contributions

In Belarus , the typical estimation for employee payroll contributions cost is around 1%.

Individual Income Tax Contributions

The income tax rate in Belarus is a flat rate of 13%.

Pension in Belarus

The pension system is mostly pay-as-you-go, meaning current workers contribute to the system, and those funds are directly used to pay pension benefits.

In Belarus, work permits and visas are essential for employers looking to hire foreign workers. The process involves submitting applications, providing necessary documentation, and adhering to legal requirements. Key visa types include the Single Entry Work Visa, Multiple Entry Work Visa, Temporary Work Visa, and Permanent Work Visa. Employers are responsible for ensuring that foreign employees meet the criteria for work permits and visas, and must be involved in the sponsorship process to ensure compliance with local regulations.

Mandatory Leave Entitlement in Belarus

The annual leave entitlement in Belarus is 24 days for a full time worker. These can include public holidays on top of that or within those days, which would otherwise be unpaid.

Public Holidays In Belarus

Belarus observes a total of 9 national holidays. These national holidays include:

Paid Time Off in Belarus

Employees are entitled to a minimum of 24 paid days of annual leave once they have completed at least six months of employment. These vacation days should be taken within the year, with the exception of rare cases where carryover is allowed.

Maternity Leave In Belarus

New mothers are entitled to 126 days of paid maternity leave (or 140 days for medical reasons or multiple births). Afterward, there's an option for three years of unpaid maternity leave, during which the job must be kept open. If another child is born during these three years, the mother can take maternity leave again.

Paternity Leave In Belarus

Fathers can take up to 14 days of paternity leave within the first six months of their child's birth. Whether this leave is paid or unpaid is determined by the employer and the employment contract.

Sick Leave In Belarus

In Belarus, employees can get paid sick leave for up to 120 days. The employer pays for this leave, deducting the cost from their monthly payments to the State Social Welfare Fund. During the first 12 days, the payment is 80% of the base salary, and from day 13 to 120, it's 100%.

Parental Leave In Belarus

Parents can take up to 3 years of parental leave until their child turns 3. Either parent can use this leave, and they can decide together how to take the time off. During parental leave, they receive a childcare allowance: 539.56 BYN for the first child and 693.72 BYN for each subsequent child. If the employer has 15 or more employees, the employer pays for the leave. If there are fewer than 15 employees, social security covers the costs.

Family Care Leave

Employees are eligible to receive 100% of their average earnings during Family Care Leave. This leave can be taken to care for a sick child under 14 years old or a disabled child under 18.

Bereavement Leave

Employees are entitled to up to 2 days of paid leave in the event of the death of a close family member or if the family member is facing a life-threatening illness or injury.

Termination Process in Belarus

Employment law safeguards employees by limiting the reasons for which employers can terminate their contracts. The specific regulations for dismissals are detailed in Article 42 of the Labor Code. Termination of an employment contract in Belarus can occur under various circumstances that include:

• Mutual Agreement
• Expiration of Contract Term
• Initiation by Either Party
• After Probationary Period

Notice Period in Belarus

Employers are required to provide a minimum notice period of one month. The maximum allowable notice period that can be established is three months

Severance in Belarus

Severance payments in Belarus are outlined in the employment contract. And mostly it requires the employer to pay a minimum of 2 weeks' worth of the average salary.