Labour Law in Georgia: What Every Employer Needs to Know
Hiring in Georgia is relatively straightforward, with a competitive labour market and salary costs 30–40% lower than in Central Europe. Here are the key rules of the Georgian Labour Code for 2026.
The Employment Contract
The Georgian Labour Code provides for two types of contracts: an individual agreement (between an employer and an employee) and a collective agreement (between an employer or group of employers and a group of employees). The contract may be oral or written, but the written form is mandatory when the employment relationship exceeds three months. Unless the contract is for one year or more, a fixed-term contract can only be concluded in cases expressly provided for by the Code.
Working Hours and Overtime
Standard working time is 40 hours per week for adults, 36 hours for minors aged 16 to 18, and 24 hours for those aged 14 to 16. Any hours worked beyond these thresholds, including on official public holidays, are considered overtime and must be subject to a negotiated pay premium or compensatory rest.
Leave and Absences
• Annual paid leave: 24 working days
• Annual unpaid leave: 15 days
• Maternity and parental leave: at the employee's request, with the possibility of taking up to 12 additional weeks of unpaid parental leave per year, until the child reaches age 5.
Carrying over paid leave to the following year is possible with the employee's agreement, but it is prohibited to carry it over two consecutive years.
Termination of Employment
The Labour Code exhaustively lists the grounds for termination and the related procedures (including compensation rules). The parties may only terminate the contract on the basis of these grounds, with documented justification.
Wages and Social Contributions
There is no national statutory minimum wage in Georgia. Remuneration is freely negotiated between the employer and the employee. Personal income tax is withheld at source by the employer at the flat rate of 20%. In addition, contributions to the funded pension scheme apply (see Article 9).
Employment of Foreign Nationals
As of 1 March 2026, almost all foreign nationals wishing to work in Georgia must obtain a work permit, in accordance with Government Resolution No. 70 of 20 February 2026.
This applies to all foreign nationals without permanent residence who wish to carry out salaried or self-employed activity in Georgia: employees of a Georgian company under an employment contract, entrepreneurs, consultants, freelancers, and independent professionals.
Exemptions include: refugees and asylum seekers, employees of diplomatic missions and international organisations, accredited journalists from foreign media, and holders of an investment residence permit.