Hiring Talent And Managing Payroll In Belarus

Hiring in Belarus? Read on to find out the employment norms (like taxes, payroll and benefits) and EOR (Employer on Record) norms in Belarus.

Employment norms in Belarus

Belarus, located in Eastern Europe, has undergone significant changes in its labor laws and regulations since gaining independence in 1991. With a population of over 9 million people, the country has developed a diverse and highly educated workforce that is supported by a robust employment framework. Understanding the employment norms in Belarus is critical for businesses and individuals alike, as it governs the rules and regulations surrounding various aspects of employment, including contracts, working hours, wages, and benefits.

General Information:

The Belarusian currency is the Belarusian ruble (BYN).
Minsk is the capital of Belarus.
The official languages of Belarus are Belarusian and Russian. Legal documents in Belarus can be drafted in either Belarusian or Russian to be considered legally valid.
The Gross Domestic Product of Belarus was reported to be USD 235.75 billion.

Labor laws in Belarus govern employment conditions, employee rights, and employer obligations, including minimum wage, working hours, and health and safety standards.

Table of Contents

Select Section

Agreements
Onboarding Process
Visa
Minimum Wage
Payroll Cycle
Annual Bonus
Health Benefits
Working Hours and Overtime
Leaves
Social Security
Taxes for Employers
Taxes for Employees
Probation
Termination
Severance Pay
Employees or Contractors
Final Words

Agreements Onboarding Process Visa Minimum Wage Payroll Cycle Annual Bonus Health Benefits Working Hours and Overtime Leaves Social Security Taxes for Employers Taxes for Employees Probation Termination Severance Pay Employees or Contractors Final Words

Agreements

The Labor Code of Belarus governs labor and employment-related agreements in the country.
Employment contracts are the most common form of agreement between employers and employees in Belarus. The contract must be in writing and should specify the duration of employment, working hours, salary, and other terms and conditions of employment.
Contracts in Belarus can be drafted in either Belarusian or Russian language to be considered legally valid.
Collective bargaining agreements are also common in Belarus. These agreements are negotiated between employers and employee representatives, usually labor unions. They may cover a range of issues, including wages, working conditions, and benefits.
In case of labor disputes, employees have the right to file a complaint with the labor inspectorate or take legal action. Belarus also has a system of labor arbitration to resolve disputes between employers and employees.
Discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, or other factors is prohibited by law. Employers who violate these provisions can be subject to fines and other penalties.

Onboarding Process

The employee onboarding process in Belarus involves integrating new employees into the organization and ensuring they have the necessary tools and information to be successful in their roles.
The process typically includes orientation sessions, training, and introductions to key personnel.
Mandatory documents that must be submitted during onboarding include an employment contract, tax identification number, and social security registration.
It is important to ensure that all legal and compliance requirements are met during the onboarding process, such as ensuring that new employees are authorized to work in Belarus and have the necessary permits and licenses.

Visa

Belarus has several types of visas for foreign workers, including:

Work visa: Visa issued to foreign nationals who will be employed by a Belarusian company.
Business visa: issued to foreign nationals who will be conducting business activities in Belarus but are not employed by a Belarusian company.
Temporary residence visa: issued to foreign nationals who will be living in Belarus for an extended period, usually for more than 90 days.
Transit visa: issued to foreign nationals who will be passing through Belarus on their way to another destination.

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Minimum Wage

The Republic of Belarus' Council of Ministers, in cooperation with the nation's employers and trade unions' associations, sets the amount of the monthly minimum wage as proposed by the National Council on Labor and Social Issues. The minimum wage in Belarus is BYN 554.00 per month, effective January 1, 2023.

Payroll Cycle

In Belarus, the payroll cycle is monthly or bi-monthly.

Annual Bonus

There is no legislation mandating an annual bonus for employees in Belarus. However, many companies choose to provide a bonus to their workers as a reward for their hard work and dedication. Best practices suggest that bonuses should be allocated proportionally to an employee's performance and contribution to the organization.

Health Benefits

In Belarus, employers are not mandated by law to provide health benefits to their employees.
Common health benefits that are usually included:
- Health insurance: to cover medical expenses and protect employees from high costs associated with medical treatments
- Mental health support: to provide access to mental health care, counseling, and therapy
- Wellness programs: to promote healthy lifestyle habits and provide employees with access to exercise and nutrition classes and support
Offering such benefits can be an effective way for employers to support the health and well-being of their workforce and improve employee satisfaction and retention.

Working Hours and Overtime

Work hours: In Belarus, the standard working week is 40 hours, typically spread over 5 days, starting from Monday to Friday.
Break: One-hour lunch break every day is given to employees.
Overtime: Overtime is 200% of the normal salary of the employee. The duration of overtime should not exceed 10 hours per week and 180 hours annually.

Leaves

Sick Leaves

Employees can take 120 days of sick leaves. The leave is paid by the employer and deducted from the monthly payments made by the employer to State Social Welfare Fund.

Parental/Maternity/Paternity leaves

Employees can take parental leaves of 3 years, till their child turns 3.
Female employees who have spent more than 6 months in the same organization can avail of maternity leave of 126 days, which can be extended to 140 days, in case of any complications.
Parental leave and maternity leave are paid by social security if the employees in an organization are less than 15. If there are more employees, i.e above 15 then the employer pays for the parental leaves.
There isn't any provision for paternity leave in Belarus for now. Though the employee can avail of 14 days of unpaid leave.

Annual leaves

Employees in Belarus are entitled to at least 24 days of paid annual leave per year.

Public Holidays (for the Calendar year 2024)

A few of the following dates may vary according to the traditional calendar.

New Year's Day - 1st January (Monday)
Second Day of New Year's Day - 2nd January (Tuesday)
Orthodox Christmas - 7th January (Sunday)
International Women's Day - 8th March (Friday)
Commemoration Day - 25th April (Thursday)
International Labour Day - 1st May (Wednesday)
Victory Day - 9th May (Thursday)
Independence Day - 3rd July (Wednesday)
October Revolution Day - 7th November (Thursday)
Christmas Day - 25th December (Wednesday)

Public Holidays (for the Calendar year 2025)

A few of the following dates may vary according to the traditional calendar.

New Year's Day - 1st January (Wednesday)
Second Day of New Year's Day - 2nd January (Thursday)
Orthodox Christmas - 7th January (Tuesday)
International Women's Day - 8th March (Saturday)
Commemoration Day - 25th April (Friday)
International Labour Day - 1st May (Thursday)
Victory Day - 9th May (Friday)
Independence Day - 3rd July (Thursday)
October Revolution Day - 7th November (Friday)
Christmas Day - 25th December (Thursday)

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Taxes for Employers

In Belarus, employers are required to pay a variety of taxes on their employees' wages and profits.

6% contribution to Social Welfare Fund (Social Security)
0.6% to Injury Insurance
28% contribution to Social Welfare Fund (Pension)
0.5% contribution to the commission paid to the bank for transferring to the employee's card

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Taxes for Employees

Employees in Belarus must pay several taxes, which are withheld from their paychecks. The four main taxes include:

1% is contributed towards the pension fund.
Employee income tax contribution is 13%.

Probation

In Belarus, the maximum Probationary period is three months for most employees. It generally ranges between one to three months.

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Termination

The termination process in Belarus is governed by labor laws, and employers must follow due process and provide notice and compensation where required. Employers cannot terminate employees at their will outside the Probation period. They need to give a justified cause before terminating an employee. Employees who feel that they have been unfairly terminated can seek redress through the courts or other legal channels.

Reasons for termination include:

Voluntarily taken by the employee.
Done based on mutual agreement.
Unilaterally by the employee based on staff reduction, - period, and employee's inconsistency for the job. If an employee has inadequate qualifications to perform the duties. Violation of labor duties by the employee is some of the reasons for termination.
The termination is also done if the employee's contract gets expired.

Severance Pay

In Belarus, employees who are terminated without cause are entitled to receive severance pay. Upon dismissal, employees are entitled to a severance payment of three months of salary.

Employees or Contractors

In Belarus, the distinction between employees and contractors is based on legal definitions that determine their rights, obligations, and responsibilities.
An employee is defined as an individual who performs work under an employment contract and is subject to the employer's management and control.
the contractor is an individual who performs work under a contract for services and is not subject to the employer's management and control.

Misclassifying an employee as a contractor or vice versa can lead to legal and financial penalties for both the employer and the worker. If an employer misclassifies an employee as a contractor, they may be held liable for unpaid taxes, social security contributions, and other benefits. On the other hand, if a worker is misclassified as a contractor, they may be denied access to employment benefits and protections, such as sick leave, annual leave, and social security benefits.

Final Words

In conclusion, Belarus has a comprehensive set of employment laws and regulations that govern the rights and obligations of employers and employees. The country offers a range of benefits and provisions. It provides a stable and supportive environment for businesses and employees.