Economic Overview, Maritime Dominance & Mediterranean Tech Hub
Greece combines world-leading maritime shipping assets with an elite engineering workforce and expanding international tech hubs in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Key Economic Sectors
- Maritime Shipping: World's largest commercial shipowning nation, driving advanced maritime tech and logistics software.
- Software & Cloud R&D: Major regional data centers and development hubs for Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Google.
- Pharma & Life Sciences: Pfizer global digital innovation center in Thessaloniki and domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Employment Contracts, Greek Labour Law & ERGANI II Registration
Regulated by Greek Labour Law and managed via the ERGANI II government platform.
- Mandatory Electronic Filing: Contracts must be in Greek and submitted electronically to ERGANI before work starts.
- Probation Period: Maximum statutory probation is 6 months (under Law 5053/2023).
Working Hours, Digital Work Card & 14-Salary Structure
Working Hours & Digital Card Tracking
- Standard Hours: 40 hours per week (8 hours/day over 5 days). Real-time digital time tracking via the ERGANI Digital Work Card.
- Overtime (*Yperoria*): 120% (20% surcharge) for supplementary work; 140% (40% surcharge) for statutory overtime; 160% (60% surcharge) for exceptional overtime.
Mandatory 14 Salaries per Year
Under Greek law, employees receive **14 monthly salary payments per year**: 12 regular monthly salaries, plus the 13th month Christmas bonus (*Doro Pascha / Doro Christougennon*) and the 14th month Easter and summer vacation bonuses.
Annual Leave, Public Holidays & Maternity Protections
- Annual Paid Vacation: 20 working days in year 1 (for 5-day week), 21 days in year 2, and 22 working days in year 3+ (scaling up to 25–26 days with 10+ years tenure).
- Public Holidays: 14 official national public holidays.
- Maternity Leave: 17 weeks (8 weeks prenatal + 9 weeks postnatal) paid via e-EFKA and OAED, plus an optional **9 months special maternity protection leave** paid by DYPA.
- Paternity Leave: 14 paid working days upon childbirth.
Social Insurance (e-EFKA 22.29%), 14 Salaries & AADE Tax
| Statutory Scheme | Employer Share | Employee Share | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| e-EFKA Social Security (Pensions & Health) | 22.29% | 13.87% | Primary pension (13.33% Er), health (4.55% Er), supplementary |
| Total Statutory Contributions | 22.29% | 13.87% | Capped at monthly maximum contribution base |
Personal Income Tax: Progressive rates from 9% (up to €10k) up to 44% on earnings over €40,000/yr, administered by AADE.
Termination, Notice Periods & Severance Indemnity
- Notice Periods: 1 to 4 months for written notice dismissals (or 50% reduced severance).
- Severance Indemnity (*Apozimiosi Apolysis*): Statutory formula scaling from 1 month's salary (1–4 yrs service) up to 12 months' salary (16+ yrs service).
Why Use an Employer of Record (EOR) in Greece
- Instant Tech Team Deployment: Onboard software engineers in Athens or Thessaloniki in days.
- ERGANI II & 14-Salary Compliance: Flawless management of digital work card tracking, e-EFKA social security, and Christmas/Easter bonuses.
- EU Blue Card & Digital Nomad Visa: EOR sponsors work permits for non-EU specialists.
Hiring in Greece? Key Resources
Whether you are evaluating entity setup vs. using an Employer of Record, or looking for the best international payroll solution, our guides give you transparent benchmarks:
