* Playroll continues to analyse immediate opportunities and fulfilled roles by recruitment partners, contractors and employers to identify in-demand jobs.

Capital City
Athens
Currency

Euro (€)

Timezone

EET (GMT +2)

Payroll
Monthly
Employment Cost

22.29%

Annual Leave

26 days

In-demand Specialties*
Tourism, Merchant Shipping, Industrial Production

The Ultimate Guide to Hiring Employees in Greece

Simplify hiring employees in Greece by partnering with Playroll. Our Employer of Record (EOR) handles hiring, onboarding, payroll, taxes, immigration, benefits administration, and compliance. While you maintain control of day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

hiring-in-Greece-guide

Key Considerations Before Hiring In Greece

Employing in Greece requires employers to own a legal entity in the country and manage payroll, tax, benefits and compliance through their own in-country resources. Grow your team in Greece with our Employer of Record solution, ensuring streamlined, compliant business expansion with no entity.

Playroll allows you to hire employee's in Greece quickly, easily and we even automate tax document collection, benefits, payroll and more.

Good To Know

Greece is recognised as a key player in European Union (EU) shipping and holds a prominent global position in maritime transport, boasting a fleet of 5,000 vessels. It ranks first among nations such as Japan, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong, which collectively represent over half of the world's overseas shipping capacity.

The European Union provides substantial financial backing to Greece, with the country having received 61.9 billion EUR from the European Stability Mechanism, constituting a significant portion of the overall 86 billion EUR budget in financial assistance.

Greece has experienced consistent growth in foreign direct investment since 2016, and it displayed a notable recovery from the 2020 pandemic. This has contributed to an increasingly favourable business environment in the country.

Greece takes pride in its well-established network infrastructure, supported by government investments in business expansion. Greek workers not only possess high levels of technical education and English proficiency, but the country also offers growing employment opportunities.

playroll-good-to-know

Fundamental Aspects of Employment in Greece

As per Greek Decree No. 156/1994, aligned with Council Directive 91/533/EEC, employers must provide written information to their employees regarding fundamental terms and conditions of employment within the initial two months of their hiring. This written agreement should encompass the following details:

  • Identification of both parties
  • Starting date (and duration for temporary contracts)
  • Workplace and working hours
  • Job description, specifying the professional group
  • Base salary (including compensation and benefits)
  • Total number of allocated holidays
  • Notice periods for termination
  • Mention of any applicable collective agreements

Probationary Period in Greece

The first 12 months of indefinite employment contracts are considered to be the probationary period during which the employer may terminate the employment contract without notice and without severance pay.

Working hours in Greece

In Greece, the regular workweek consists of 5 days, each comprising 8 hours, totaling 40 hours weekly. However, it can be extended to 48 hours per week through mutual agreement between the employer and employee.

Overtime in Greece

Work exceeding the regular weekly hours is compensated as overtime, regulated by contracts or agreements. Daytime overtime is paid at 120.00% and nighttime at 125.00% for the initial hour, followed by 140% for the next two hours. The yearly maximum for overtime hours is set at 150.

Navigating Key Aspects of Payroll in Greece

Greece has a robust and complex payroll and tax system, and as an employer, it pays to understand payroll process basics.

1 January - 31 December

Fiscal Year in Greece

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

Payroll cycle in Greece

The payroll cycle in Greece is usually monthly, with employees being paid on the last working day of the month.
4.875 EUR p/h

Minimum Wage in Greece

The minimum wage for employees in Greece is typically 4.875 EUR per hour, amounting to ~780 EUR per month for a typical 40 hour work week.

Minimum wages and salaries in Greece

In Greece, the minimum monthly wage is 780 EUR.

Bonus Payments in Greece

Greek law mandates private sector employees to receive two extra monthly salaries, distributed as Christmas (one month's salary), Easter (half a month's salary), and Vacation Bonus (half a month's salary). If Christmas bonuses are delayed, employees can file complaints with labour inspectorates, potentially resulting in fines.

Comprehensive Overview of Employment Taxes in Greece

Understanding the tax obligations for both employers and employees is crucial when operating in Greece's business landscape. This section explains how taxes and statutory fees affect payroll and individual earnings in Greece.

Employer Tax Contributions

Employer payroll contributions are generally estimated at an additional 22.29% on top of the employee salary in Greece.

Tax Rate Tax Type

Employee Payroll Tax Contributions

In Greece, the typical estimation for employee payroll contributions cost is around 15.87%.

Tax Rate Tax Type

Individual Payroll Tax Contributions

Income tax in Greece follows a progressive rate structure, where factors such as household status and the number of children can influence the overall tax rates.

Tax Rate Income Bracket

Pension in Greece

In Greece, individuals must reach a minimum age of 62 and accumulate 40 years of insurance contributions to the Greek Social Security system to qualify for the complete retirement pension. This pension is disbursed monthly.

The tax-related information provided in this guide is intended for general guidance and informational purposes only. Reach out to our dedicated team for insights on remote hiring in Greece tailored to your needs.

Easily navigate payroll, taxes and contributions with Playroll.

Grow your distributed workforce today!

Understanding the Protocols for Termination of Employment in Greece

When it comes to terminating employment in Greece, understanding the legal obligations regarding severance pay and contributions is essential. Below is a detailed overview of the key considerations for both employers and employees.

Termination Process

The termination process is dictated by the employment and collective agreements, contract type, and reasons for termination. In the case of indefinite contracts, the employer is required to issue a written notice of termination, and the employee must be registered with the Unified Social Security Fund (EFKA).

Notice Period

If notice periods is different from statutory norms, collective agreements may specify them. The duration of the notice period depends on the employee's tenure and the grounds for termination. In cases where termination is initiated by the employer, the notice period is as follows:

  • 1 year of service – no notice during probationary period
  • Between 1-2 years of service – 1 month notice
  • Between 3-5 years of service – 2 months’ notice
  • Between 6-10 years of service – 3 months’ notice
  • More than 10 years of service – 4 months’ notice

Severance Pay

Severance pay in Greece is determined by the duration of the employee's tenure. After one year of service, employees are eligible for the following severance payments:

  • Resignation – no severance
  • 1-4 years of service – 2 gross salaries
  • 4-6 years of service – 3 gross salaries
  • 6-8 years of service – 4 gross salaries

Annual Leave Entitlements and Company Policies in Greece

The annual leave entitlement in Greece is 26 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 Greece

Greece acknowledges 14 public holidays, which are separate from the minimum paid leave entitlement and are taken in addition to the regular annual leave. The national holidays in Greece include:

Holiday Date

Paid Time Off in Greece

Maternity Leave in Greece

Paternity Leave in Greece

Sick Leave in Greece

Marriage Leave

Bereavement Leave

School Leave

School Leave

Parental Leave In Greece

Greece's Benefits Built Into Playroll

Competitive benefits package in Greece

Playroll is committed to providing tailored, competitive benefits packages that are designed not only to attract but also retain top talent worldwide. Our global team of benefits experts build custom local packages to ensure your employees in Greece's needs are met. Typically our packages contain some or all of the following benefits.

Health Insurance
Pension or 401k
Life and Disability Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Discounts & Perks

Playroll Supplementary Benefits For Employment In Greece

Make your benefits package in Greece a talent magnet with Playroll's local plans. We offer benefits that are compliant, comprehensive, and flexible — all at competitive rates. Speak with our local territory experts to explore the localized benefits we can offer you, while you scale your team.

  • Health Insurance
  • Pension
  • Background Checks
  • IT Equipment Sourcing

Statutory benefits for employment in Greece

Playroll allows you to provide localized benefits for employees in Greece within minutes. All in one manageable online dashboard. If you'd like specific information about our benefits packages in Greece create an account or contact our global expansion team, today.

Playroll's Expertise in Facilitating Work Visas for Greece

At Playroll we're all about empowering employees to work anywhere, making mobility possible for global teams. We sponsor visas and hire the employee for you, so you don’t have to worry about payroll, taxes, and more.

It's important to note, visa support can be complicated. There are many variables that affect whether sponsorship is possible, including one’s nationality, education, marital status, and the immigration policy for the country in question.

Unfortunately, this means we can’t support visas everywhere - with that being said, we handle the entire visa process in-house, and dig into your situation to give you an overview of what to expect if we're able to help with visa sponsorship in Greece.

Playroll Immigration Support

Integrated EOR Platform

Legal and compliance experts are readily available to provide guidance and case-by-case Q&A support.

Accelerated Immigration Timeline

By leveraging dedicated support from in-house legal and compliance experts for case by case questions and more.

Hire in 50+ Countries

Accelerated Immigration Timeline

Acquiring a visa without an entity has never been easier, leverage Playroll's global coverage to sponsor and hire employees.

Hiring International Employees is Complex.

Playroll makes it easy!