Overview of Labor Law and Employment Policies in Slovakia

Employment Law Overview

• Key Legislation:
  • Labor Code (Zákonník práce)
  • Social Insurance Act (Zákon o sociálnom poistení)
  • Health Insurance Act (Zákon o zdravotnom poistení)
• Legal Characteristics:
  • Aims to protect the rights and interests of employees
  • Sets minimum standards for employment contracts, working hours, vacations, dismissals, and severance

Employment Contract Requirements

• Contract Types:
  • Indefinite contracts
  • Fixed-term contracts (maximum of two years)
• Contractual Provisions:
  • Job description
  • Place of work
  • Start date of employment
  • Amount and payment schedule of wages
  • Other benefits and allowances (if applicable)
• Language and Currency:
  • Contracts must be in Slovak
  • Wages must be paid in euros

Working Time Regulations

• Standard Working Hours: 40 hours per week
• Rest Days and Breaks:
  • Minimum of 24 hours of rest per week
  • Minimum of 30 minutes break for workdays exceeding 6 hours

Vacation Policy

• Annual Leave:
  • 20 days (standard)
  • 25 days for those over 33 years old
  • 32 days for hazardous or demanding work
  • 32 days for parents
• Public Holidays: 15
• Special Leaves:
  • Sick leave: 10 days with pay
  • Maternity leave: 34 weeks (37 weeks for single mothers)
  • Paternity leave: 28 weeks (if mother does not take maternity leave or parental allowance)
  • Parental leave: Up to 3 years of age of the child

Employee Dismissal and Contract Termination

• Notice Period:
  • Less than 1 year of employment: 1 month
  • 1-5 years of employment: 2 months
  • Over 5 years of employment: 3 months
• Severance Pay:
  • 1-5 years of employment: 1 month's salary
  • 5-10 years of employment: 2 months' salary
• Protection Against Unfair Dismissal:
  • Employers must provide a valid reason for dismissing an employee
  • Employees have the right to appeal unfair dismissals

Taxation

• Personal Income Tax:

  • Salary Range (EUR)	Tax Rate
    0 - 37,163.36	19%
    37,163.36 and above	25%

• Social Insurance Contributions:

  • Employer: 25.2%
  • Employee: 13.4%

Health Insurance

• Insurance Policy:
  • All employees must participate in the national health insurance scheme
• Insurance Coverage:
  • Basic healthcare services

Compensation and Benefits

• Minimum Wage: €580 per month
• Salary Structure:
  • Base salary
  • Bonuses
  • Allowances

Work Permits and Visas

• Permit Requirements:
  • Non-EU citizens from outside the EU/EEA require a work permit
• Application Process:
  • Application made by the employer to the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family

Confidentiality and Non-Compete Clauses

• Enforceability:
  • Confidentiality and non-compete clauses are enforceable in Slovakia
• Common Provisions:
  • Protection of employer's trade secrets
  • Restriction on employees working for competitors after leaving employment

Training and Development

• Legal Requirements:
  • Employers must provide safety training and opportunities for skill enhancement to employees
• Government Support:
  • Government funding for training and development programs

Workplace Diversity and Inclusion

• Legal Requirements:
  • Prohibition of discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics
• Enforcement Measures:
  • Employers must develop and implement anti-discrimination policies

Remote Work Policies

• Legal Framework:
  • Remote work is legally recognized in Slovakia
• Tax and Insurance Implications:
  • Tax and social insurance implications of remote work depend on specific circumstances

Authoritative Website Addresses

• Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Family of the Slovak Republic: https://www.employment.gov.sk/