Hire in Georgia

Hire in Georgia

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Georgian Currency

Georgian Lari (GEL)

The Capital of Georgia

Tbilisi

Time Zone in Georgia

GMT – 4

Important Facts About the Country of Georgia

Introduction to Georgia

Situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, Georgia, officially the Republic of Georgia, occupies a land area of 69,700 square kilometers with a population of 3.7 million people. Tbilisi, the capital and largest city, holds significant importance as the economic, political, and cultural hub of the country, hosting approximately one-third of the Georgian population. Georgia is nestled in the Caucasus region, contributing to its unique geographical and cultural identity.

What to Know about Georgia’s Geography

To the north, Georgia shares its border with Russia, while Azerbaijan lies to the east, Armenia to the south, and Turkey to the southwest. The nation boasts breathtaking landscapes, highlighted by the imposing peaks of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, with Mount Shkhara standing as the highest point in Georgia. Additionally, the fertile valleys, such as the Alazani and Kura valleys, are adorned with vineyards and agricultural expanses.

Climate in Georgia

The climate in Georgia is diverse, reflecting its geographic variations. The country encompasses several climatic zones, including subtropical, Mediterranean, and alpine climates. Coastal regions feature a humid subtropical climate characterized by mild winters and warm summers. In contrast, inland areas, especially the highlands, undergo more pronounced seasonal shifts. The mountainous areas of Georgia are renowned for cold winters and cool summers, contributing to their distinct climatic characteristics.

The Culture of Georgia

Over thousands of years, Georgia has cultivated a profound and ancient cultural legacy. This vibrant heritage bears the indelible imprints of historical connections with the Silk Road and the influences of conquerors, invaders, and neighboring cultures. The nation’s renown is rooted in its remarkable traditional polyphonic singing, lively folk dances, and distinctive artistic endeavors such as cloisonné enamelwork and carpet weaving.

Religions Observed in Georgia

Eastern Orthodox Christianity is practiced by over 80% of the population in Georgia, with the predominant affiliation being the Georgian Orthodox Church. Tracing its roots back to the fourth century, the Georgian Orthodox Church stands as one of the world’s oldest Christian institutions. In Georgian society, religious festivals and traditions hold great significance, along with the reverence for the country’s multitude of religious sites and monasteries.

Languages Spoken in Georgia

Georgian, with its distinct alphabet and linguistic traits, serves as the official language of Georgia and is widely spoken across the nation. In specific regions, minority languages like Russian, Armenian, and Azerbaijani thrive, reflecting the diverse ethnic communities present in those areas.

Georgian Human Resources at a Glance

Employment Law Protections in Georgia

Primary legal frameworks governing employment in Georgia encompass the Constitution, the Labor Code (referred to as the “Code”), the Civil Code, and the Law of Georgia On Occupational Safety. Additional crucial legislations comprise the Law of Georgia On Labor Migration and the government of Georgia’s Decree No. 417 addressing the employment of migrant workers.

Employment Contracts in Georgia

In general, employment contracts must be documented in writing and should be in a language comprehensible to all parties involved. Written employment agreements may be executed in multiple languages, but in case of any disparities in terms, the contract should specify the preferred language.

At a minimum, the contract must encompass the following details:

Commencement date and duration of labor relations.
Work hours and breaks.
Work location.
Position and nature of duties.
Compensation amount and payment process.
Procedure for compensating overtime work.
Duration and process for granting paid and unpaid leaves of absence.

Fixed Term Contacts for Georgian Employees

In Georgia, fixed-term employment contracts are permissible under the following conditions:

When there is a specific amount of work to be performed.
For seasonal work.
When the amount of work experiences a temporary increase.
To replace an employee temporarily absent from work due to the suspension of labor relations.
When the employment contract outlines compensation subsidies as per the Law of Georgia on Promoting Employment.
In the presence of other objective circumstances justifying the need for a specified period of employment.

If an employment agreement surpasses 30 months or if consecutive term agreements are executed, resulting in a cumulative duration exceeding 30 months, it will be categorized as an indefinite employment agreement.

Georgia's Guidelines Regarding Probation Period/Trial Period

The Labor Code permits the establishment of a probationary employment contract with an employee. However, this type of contract can be entered into only once and has a maximum duration of six months. Furthermore, it is mandatory for the contract to be documented in writing.

Throughout the probationary period, the employee is entitled to receive compensation. The employer retains the authority to terminate the probationary contract or convert it into a standard employment contract at any point during this probationary duration.

Regulations and Rules Regarding Working Hours in Georgia

As a rule, the total working hours per week, excluding breaks and rest periods, typically amount to 40 hours. Nevertheless, certain industries may necessitate continuous production or work beyond eight hours. In such instances, the weekly work duration should not surpass 48 hours, as specified in the law, which outlines the applicable industries.

Georgian Laws Regarding Overtime

If an employee exceeds 40 hours of work in a week, it qualifies as overtime, and they are eligible for compensation at an increased hourly rate. The exact rate is established through mutual agreement between the employer and employee in their employment contract. Alternatively, they may mutually decide for the employer to offer additional time off in lieu of overtime pay.

Georgian Timesheets & Record Keeping

The employer must document the employees’ working hours in writing or electronically on a regular working day. They should then provide the monthly record of the working time to the employee unless exceptional circumstances related to work organization make it impossible.

The employer is obligated to retain the document recording the working time (worked hours) for a duration of one year.

Termination

The Labor Code outlines a specific and comprehensive list of grounds for terminating an employment contract:

a) Economic, technological, or organizational changes necessitating downsizing;

b) Expiry of the employment agreement;

c) Completion of the work specified in the employment contract;

d) Voluntary written resignation by the employee;

e) Mutual agreement in writing;

f) Incompatibility between the employee’s qualifications or skills and the job requirements;

g) Severe violation of the employee’s obligations outlined in the individual employment contract, collective agreement, or internal labor regulations;

h) Repeated violation of the employee’s obligations, with prior disciplinary actions taken within the past year;

i) Extended disability exceeding 40 consecutive calendar days or a total of 60 calendar days within six months, unless stated otherwise in the employment contract, and the exhaustion of applicable leave under the Labor Code;

j) Court judgment or decision preventing the employee from carrying out the work;

k) Court decision deeming a strike illegal under the Labor Code;

l) Death of the employer (for natural persons) or the employee;

m) Initiation of liquidation proceedings against the employer (for legal persons);

n) Other objective circumstances justifying employment contract termination.

The employer is obligated to make the final payment to the employee within seven calendar days after terminating the employment relationship.

Georgia's Requirements Regarding Notice Periods

A notice period of 30 calendar days is applicable for both the employer and the employee, with the exception of the probation period, during which no notice is necessary. The notification must be conveyed in written form.

Redundancy/Severance Pay in Georgia

In case the termination is instigated by the employer, the employee is entitled to receive severance pay amounting to at least one month’s salary.

Data Protection

The primary regulation governing data protection in Georgia is the Law of Georgia on Personal Data Protection.

Tax and Social Security Information for Employers in Georgia

Personal Income Tax in Georgia

Income from employment in Georgia is subject to a flat tax rate of 20%.

Social Security in Georgia

Georgia lacks a traditional social security system; however, individuals under the age of 60 are obliged to make mandatory contributions to the Pension Scheme of Georgia. Both employers and employees must contribute 2% of the employee’s salary to the pension account. The government supplements this with additional contributions based on the employee’s annual salary: 2% for salaries under GEL 24,000, 1% for salaries between GEL 24,000 and GEL 60,000. If the annual salary exceeds GEL 60,000, the government contributes only up to this threshold. Please note that the specified rates are general guidelines, and actual rates may vary.

Important Information for Georgian Employees

Salary Payment

Employee salaries in Georgia must be disbursed at least once monthly. In the event of a delay in payment or settlement, the employer is obligated to remit 0.07% of the overdue sum to the employee for each day of the delay.

Payslip

While not mandated by Georgia’s Labor Code, it is advisable for an employer to provide a monthly payslip to each employee, delineating the various components of earnings for the respective period.

Annual Leave

After completing 11 months of employment, an employee is entitled to a minimum of 24 paid working days off and 15 days of unpaid leave annually. With mutual agreement, the employee can opt to take their vacation in installments.

When opting for unpaid leave, the employee is required to notify the employer at least two weeks prior to the intended leave date. However, exceptions are made for urgent medical needs or unforeseen family circumstances, allowing the employee to be exempt from the advance notice requirement.

In situations where granting paid leave within the current year disrupts regular work operations, the employer and employee may mutually decide to defer it to the following year. Nevertheless, carrying over annual leave for two consecutive years is not permitted.

The calculation of vacation pay for the employee varies. If the duration of employment is less than three months, or since the last vacation, the average salary for the worked months is considered. For employees on a fixed monthly salary, their vacation pay is determined by their salary from the preceding month. Conversely, if the employment duration is three months or more, the vacation pay is calculated based on the average salary of the preceding three months.

Upon termination initiated by the employer, the employer is obligated to compensate the employee for unused leave proportionate to the length of the employment relationship.

Sick Leave

Although the Georgian Labor Code doesn’t mandate private employers to offer paid or unpaid sick leaves, it is common practice for most private employers to provide sick leaves as an employment benefit.

Maternity & Parental Leave

An employee is entitled to maternity (pregnancy and post-natal) and childcare leave totaling 730 calendar days, with 183 calendar days being compensated; however, in specific cases, such as pregnancy complications or multiple births, 200 calendar days must be compensated.

Maternity leave is an exclusive right for the child’s mother, but the child’s father can utilize any remaining days that the mother did not use. Notification to the employer, at least two weeks in advance, is required when taking childcare leave.

For employees adopting an infant under 12 months, adoption leave of 550 calendar days is granted, starting from the child’s birth, with 90 calendar days being compensated.

Maternity, childcare, and adoption leaves are compensated at GEL 2,000 per month by Georgia’s budget.

Nursing mothers, who feed a child under one year, are granted an extended break of at least one hour during the working day, which is considered working time and must be compensated.

Public Holidays

Georgia observes a total of 17 national public holidays, with the government holding the authority to designate additional holidays.

Benefits to the Employee in Georgia

Georgian Statutory Benefits

Employees are entitled to various benefits as stipulated by law and collective agreements, encompassing retirement pensions, annual leave, maternity leave, parental leave, and more.

Other Benefits

In addition to the basic entitlements, employers frequently provide the following supplementary benefits:

Performance bonuses
Private health and life insurance
Allowances for transportation, housing/accommodation, and utilities
Extended or extra leave days, including sick leave

Rules Regarding Visas and Foreign Workers in Georgia

General Information

Visas

Georgia presently waives visa requirements for stays ranging from 90 days to one year for citizens of over 90 countries. A convenient online application form facilitates the process for over 100 passport holders, allowing them to apply for a Georgian electronic visa without having to visit a diplomatic government office.

Georgia’s multiple-entry eVisa permits stays of either 90 or 30 days within each 180 or 120 days, contingent on the traveler’s nationality.

The various Georgian visa categories include:

Diplomatic (A)
Special (B)
Ordinary (C)
Immigration (D)
Transit (T)

Applicants can opt for either short-term or long-term visas. Long-term visas inherently grant multiple entries, while short-term visas may be either single or multiple.

Work Permits

Foreign nationals intending to work in Georgia must secure a long-term visa, which functions as a work permit and enables the holder to apply for a residency permit.

Georgia facilitates online visa applications for foreign nationals. Prospective visa applicants should assemble all required supporting documentation before initiating the application process. After applying online, the candidate must submit a hard copy of the completed application form, a valid passport, and essential documents such as an employment contract to the embassy.

Once the visa is approved, the foreign employee can travel to Georgia. Upon arrival, they must obtain a residence permit from the Public Service Development Department. These permits are initially valid for one year and can be renewed for up to five years thereafter.

Public Holidays Recognized by Georgia in 2024

	Occasion	Date
1	New Year’s Day	January 1
2	New Year Holiday	January 2
3	Orthodox Christmas Day	January 7
4	Orthodox Epiphany	January 19
5	Mother’s Day	March 3
6	International Women’s Day	March 8
7	Independence Restoration Day	April 9
8	Orthodox Good Friday	May 3
9	Orthodox Easter Saturday	May 4
10	Orthodox Easter Sunday	May 5
11	Orthodox Easter Monday	May 6
12	Victory Day	May 9
13	Saint Andrew the First Called Day	May 12
14	Independence Day	May 26
15	Saint Mary’s Day	August 28
16	Svetitskhovloba	October 14
17	Saint George’s Day	November 23

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