BASIC

INFORMATION
FOR
EMPLOYMENT
IN GREECE

© UNHCR/ Victor Augusto Sánchez Mejía

In
partnership
with:
 If you are a recognised refugee, a beneficiary of subsidiary protection or a
beneficiary of temporary protection, you have access to formal
employment and you may exercise an independent economic activity
(self-employed, starting your own business). If you are an asylum-seeker
you have access to formal employment six (6) months from the date you
WHO
submitted your asylum application.

To work in Greece you need to have:

• Residence permit- for recognised refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary
protection (ADET) and beneficiaries of temporary protection- or valid
asylum-seeker’s card for asylum-seekers.
Note that to be legally employed, your residence permit/asylum-seeker’s
card must be valid, therefore do not forget to renew it before it expires.
• Tax Identification Number (AFM)
WHAT • Social Security Number (AMKA) – for recognised refugees, beneficiaries
YOU NEED of subsidiary protection and beneficiaries of temporary protection- or
TO WORK Temporary Number of Insurance and Healthcare (PAAYPA) for asylum-
seekers.
• National Insurance Number (AMA) issued by the National Social Security
and (EFKA) after you receive a job offer.

According to Greek law, you have the same labour and insurance rights as
Greek nationals, including basic salary, family allowances, hours of work,
overtime, annual leave, employment injury, maternity, sickness,
LABOURS unemployment and pension.
RIGHTS

If you are hired, the employer is obliged to inform you in writing on the
terms of the employment agreement This agreement is shared with the
authorities in the form of a “recruitment announcement”. Always ask
for a copy of this. By signing the recruitment announcement, both the
employee and the employer are bound to the terms stipulated and agreed
TERMS OF upon therein. This document contains information on the type of your
job, weekly working time, the duration of the employment, working hours,
EMPLOY-
salary, location of employment.
MENT A written employment contract is preferable but not mandatory in Greece.

For full-time jobs, the minimum monthly salary in Greece, is 780 euros
(gross) if you are not married and without any relevant working experience
in Greece.
For those working on a daily wage, the minimum is 34,84 euros gross, if
you are not married and without any relevant working experience in
Greece.
SALARY The net salary (take-home pay) depends on the deductions for taxes,
(as of pension, health insurance, etc.
April 2023) You are also entitled to Christmas, Easter and summer allowances the
amount of which depends on your monthly/daily wage and the duration
of your employment under the same employer.
 The working hours are 40 hours per week for 5-day work (8 hours/day) –
usually from Monday to Friday. Many companies work 24/7 meaning that
there are usually 2-3 8hrs. shifts. For those working on a 6 working days/
week, it is 6 hours and 40 minutes/day.
Overtime up to 1 hour per day and 5 hours per week, for a 5 day/week
employment, and up to 1 hour and 20 minutes per day and 8 hours per
week, for a 6 day/week employment. Overtimes are paid according to the
hourly wage, plus 20%.
There are special compensation provisions for work beyond 9 hours per day.
OVERTIME Night work: from 22.00 - 6.00: hourly compensation of the night hours,
plus 25%.
Work on a Saturday or for a 6th day in a week: agreed daily wage paid, plus
30%.
Work on Sundays and official holidays: 75% plus to the agreed daily wage.

Annual leave: for the 1st year of full-time employment, you are entitled to
two days leave per month, (up to 20 days leave -for 5 days work- and 24
days leave -for 6 days work- for the first calendar year of work, 21 and 25
days respectively for the second year and 22 and 26 days for the third year
onwards).
Sick leave: After 10 days of employment, you are entitled up to 15 days of
daily wage. After one year, you are entitled to a month’s wage when you
LEAVE
are absent from work due to sickness, provided you submit all the relevant
medical documents.

Sometimes a special license or additional formalities are necessary for

certain types of employment. For instance, if you wish to work in a store
TOURISTIC that ensures hygienic standards, such as restaurants, cafeterias, you need
AND SPECIAL to obtain a health certificate and a special work permit issued by a police
department. In the tourism sector, employment standards, including days
SECTORS OF
off, may vary.
EMPLOY-
MENT

• If you are sick or have an emergency, you need to inform your employer
the soonest possible.
þ Attention: If you are absent from work without a valid reason and
fail to inform your employer, they may interpret it as you quitting
your job and proceed with the necessary procedures.
þ If you want to quit your job, please inform your employer so that
the appropriate procedures can be followed.
• Go to work everyday
OBLIGATIONS • Be on time every day
AND TIPS • If you need to leave earlier, inform and ask permission from your
supervisor
• Respect your time schedule and use the phone during your breaks.
 The rights you have regarding termination of employment depend on the
type of contract you have entered into. If you hold a fixed contract (also
known as a contract of limited duration), it is typically challenging for
your employer to fire you before the contract›s expiration.
TERMINA-
If you hold an indefinite contract, your employer may fire you at any time.
TERMINA-
TION OF
However, if you have worked for the same employer for more
TION OF
EMPLOY- than a year under an indefinite contract, you are entitled to
EMPLOY-
MENT compensation. The exact amount depends on the years you have worked
MENT for that employer.

If the employer fails to comply with the legal and formal procedures
(omitting to announce the recruitment to the competent authorities):
• You are not eligible for health and social insurance.
• You risk not getting paid or paid less than what was initially agreed upon.
INFORMAL • You cannot apply for monthly unemployment allowances or other
INFORMAL
EMPLOY- financial assistance that you would otherwise be entitled to.
EMPLOY-
MENT • You are not covered in terms of accident expenses, illness or maternity
MENT leave

VIOLATION OF RIGHTS
If you have questions regarding your labour rights or you want to submit
a complaint against your employer for having violated your labour rights,
you need to visit the closest Greek Labour Inspectorate Office
(https://www.hli.gov.gr/) or call at 1555.

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© UNHCR/Ruben Salgado Escudero

© UNHCR/Ruben Salgado Escudero