Employment law in Belarus

Workers of the Newsprint Mill in Shklov. The Mogilev region

What you need to know about employment law if you’re planning to run a business in Belarus

Employment law for businesses in Belarus

If you’re planning to run a business in Belarus, It’s important to know about all aspects of employment law.

As an initial step, it’s a good idea to find a local lawyer in Belarus who can help you understand the employment regulations and keep you up to date on any changes.

Employment contracts in Belarus

Employment contracts can be drawn up for:

• an indefinite term
• a fixed term (not more than 5 years)
• a fixed term for a specific piece of work
• seasonally
• a temporary period to cover absence

Termination of contracts in Belarus

In Belarus, an employment contract can be terminated in the following circumstances:

• if both parties agree
• if initiated by one party
• if initiated by a third party (usually when external factors make continued employment relations impossible)

Dismissal in Belarus – the regulations

Employment law protects employees in Belarus by restricting the grounds on which an employer can dismiss staff.

Further details on the dismissal regulations of Belarus are outlined in Article 42 of the Labour Code.

Wages in Belarus

Businesses in Belarus are free to set their wages.

However, the vast majority of Belarusian enterprises retain some element of state control; within the state sector, wages are structured under the tariff system.

Maternity leave in Belarus

Employees are entitled to maternity leave in Belarus. With a falling population, the government has introduced a series of incentives to encourage Belarus women to have more children.

The current maternity leave entitlement in Belarus is:

• 126 days’ paid maternity leave (140 if there are medical complications)
• 3 years’ unpaid maternity leave during which time your job must be kept open
• if you have another child during these 3 years, your maternity leave entitlement starts again

Special laws for foreign employees

There are limits on the number of foreign workers company can employ and special tax laws.

Trade unions in Belarus

Traditionally trade unions have been active in Belarus. There are more than 65 trade unions in Belarus and over 4 million people in Belarus are trade union members.

In recent years the Belarus Government has imposed stricter controls on the activities of trade unions but they remain influential and lobby parliament on issues such as living standards and trade union rights.

Legislation covering employment law in Belarus

The major pieces of legislation covering employment laws in Belarus are:

• the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus 
• the Labour Code (amended 2006)
• law on Trade Unions
• law on External Labour Migration

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