Employer of Record Guide in 
Czech Republic

Czechia's thriving tech scene and skilled workforce make it an attractive destination for global expansion, but navigating local employment laws requires expertise. Our comprehensive guide helps you hire compliantly and confidently in this dynamic Central European market.

Capital City

Prague

Currency

Czech koruna (Kč)

Languages

Czech and Slovak

Population size

10,698,896
OVERVIEW

Key stats and facts

From Prague's booming tech hub to competitive tax rates, Czechia offers compelling opportunities for international employers. Understanding the local talent landscape and economic fundamentals is your first step toward successful expansion.

Major economic hubs

Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, Olomouc

Skills in demand

Software Developer, Data Scientist, Nurse, Machine Operator, Truck Driver

Currency

Czech koruna (Kč)

Language

Czech and Slovak

GDP per Capita

$32,257.38 USD per capita

Standard Tax Rate

15% federal

Your EOR guide in 
Czech Republic

Czech employment law balances worker protections with business flexibility, but getting the details right matters for compliance. Here's what you need to know about wages, taxes, working hours, and leave policies to hire successfully.

Minimum Wage

The minimum wage in Czech Republic is CZK 18,900 per month for full-time employees, effective January 1, 2024. This translates to approximately CZK 112.50 per hour based on a standard 168-hour work month.

Employment Type Monthly Rate (CZK) Hourly Rate (CZK) Effective Date
Full-time Employee 18,900 112.50 January 1, 2024
Part-time/Hourly 112.50 January 1, 2024

Note: Minimum wage rates are subject to annual adjustments by the Czech government.

Payroll Cycle

  • Monthly: Most common payment frequency in Czech Republic
  • Bi-weekly: Less common but permitted
  • Payment deadline: Salaries must be paid by the end of the following month

Individual Income Tax

Czech Republic operates a progressive income tax system with the following brackets:

Annual Income (CZK) Tax Rate
Up to 1,867,728 15%
Above 1,867,728 23%

Tax Residency Criteria: Individuals who spend more than 183 days in Czech Republic during a calendar year, or have their centre of vital interests in Czech Republic, are considered tax residents and must pay Czech income tax on their worldwide income.

Employer Payroll Contributions

Czech employers are required to make several mandatory contributions on behalf of their employees:

Contribution Type Employer Rate Employee Rate Total Rate
Social Security 24.8% 6.5% 31.3%
Health Insurance 9% 4.5% 13.5%
Total Employer Cost 33.8% 11% 44.8%

Breakdown of Social Security (24.8% employer contribution):

  • Pension insurance: 21.5%
  • Sickness insurance: 2.3%
  • Unemployment insurance: 1.2%

Note: These rates apply to gross salary up to the annual assessment ceiling, which is adjusted annually.

Working Hours

The standard working week in Czech Republic is 40 hours per week, typically distributed as 8 hours per day over 5 days.

Key regulations:

  • Maximum daily working time: 8 hours (can be extended to 12 hours with employee agreement)
  • Maximum weekly working time: 48 hours (including overtime)
  • Rest periods: Minimum 30 minutes for shifts longer than 6 hours
  • Daily rest: Minimum 11 consecutive hours between shifts

Flexible working arrangements are permitted under the Labour Code, including compressed work weeks and flexible start/end times.

Overtime Pay

  • Overtime threshold: Hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour work week
  • Overtime rate: Minimum 25% premium above regular hourly wage
  • Maximum overtime: 8 hours per week, 150 hours per year (416 hours with collective agreement)
  • Compensation options:
    • Premium pay (25% minimum)
    • Compensatory time off
    • Combination of both

Employment Classifications

Full-time vs Part-time:

  • Full-time: 40 hours per week
  • Part-time: Less than 40 hours per week, with proportional benefits

Contract Types:

  • Indefinite-term contracts: Standard permanent employment
  • Fixed-term contracts: Maximum 3 years, limited renewals
  • Temporary work: Through licensed agencies only

Annual Leave (Vacation)

  • Standard entitlement: Minimum 4 weeks (20 working days) per year
  • Enhanced entitlement: 5 weeks (25 working days) for employees over 33 years or with university education
  • Accrual: Leave accrues monthly throughout the employment year
  • Carry-over: Unused leave must generally be taken by June 30 of the following year
  • Payout: Unused leave must be paid out upon termination

Sick Leave

  • Employer responsibility: First 3 days unpaid (employer may choose to pay)
  • State sickness benefit: From day 4 onwards, paid by social security
  • Duration: Up to 380 days for the same illness
  • Benefit rate: 60% of daily assessment base from days 4-30, then 66%
  • Medical certification: Required from day 3 of absence

Maternity Leave

  • Duration: 28 weeks (37 weeks for single mothers, 31 weeks for multiple births)
  • Timing: Can begin 6-8 weeks before expected due date
  • Benefits: Paid through social security at 70% of daily assessment base
  • Job protection: Position must be held open during leave

Parental Leave

  • Duration: Until child reaches 4 years of age
  • Eligibility: Available to either parent (not simultaneously)
  • Benefits: Parental allowance paid by the state (amount varies by chosen duration)
  • Flexibility: Can be taken part-time with employer agreement

Other Statutory Leave

  • Paternity leave: 1 week within 6 weeks of birth (paid by social security)
  • Care leave: Up to 9 days per year for family care (unpaid)
  • Study leave: For work-related education (paid)
  • Civic duties: Time off for voting, jury duty, etc.

Summary

Leave Type Duration Paid? Funding Source
Annual Leave 4-5 weeks/year Yes Employer
Sick Leave Up to 380 days Partially Social Security (from day 4)
Maternity Leave 28-37 weeks Yes (70%) Social Security
Parental Leave Until child is 4 Yes (state allowance) Social Security
Paternity Leave 1 week Yes Social Security

Termination Types

Termination by Employer:

  • With notice: Standard termination requiring notice period
  • Immediate termination: For serious breaches (gross misconduct)
  • During probation: Reduced notice requirements

Termination by Employee:

  • Resignation: Employee-initiated with notice
  • Immediate resignation: In cases of employer breach

Notice Period Requirements

Notice periods vary based on employment duration and who initiates termination:

Employment Duration Employer Notice Employee Notice
Probation period (up to 3 months) 3 days 3 days
Less than 1 year 2 months 1 month
1+ years 2 months 1 month

Special circumstances:

  • Redundancy: 2 months notice regardless of tenure
  • Health reasons: 2 months notice
  • Immediate termination: No notice required (serious misconduct only)

Severance Pay

Severance pay is required in specific termination scenarios:

Reason for Termination Severance Amount
Redundancy 1-3 months' salary (based on tenure)
Health reasons 12 months' salary
Employer breach 3-6 months' salary

Calculation basis: Average monthly earnings over the last 12 months

Probationary Periods

  • Maximum duration: 3 months for standard positions, 6 months for managerial roles
  • Notice during probation: 3 days for either party
  • No severance: Generally not required during probation

Final Pay Requirements

  • Timeline: Final salary and benefits must be paid on the last working day
  • Components:
    • Outstanding salary
    • Unused vacation pay
    • Any applicable severance
    • Expense reimbursements

Legal Protections

Protected categories (termination restrictions):

  • Pregnant employees and mothers with children under 3
  • Employees on sick leave or maternity/parental leave
  • Employee representatives
  • Employees approaching retirement age

Anti-discrimination laws protect against termination based on:

  • Gender, age, race, religion
  • Sexual orientation
  • Disability
  • Trade union membership

National Public Holidays

Czech Republic observes the following public holidays:

Holiday Date Type
New Year's Day January 1 Fixed
Easter Monday Varies Variable
Labour Day May 1 Fixed
Liberation Day May 8 Fixed
St. Cyril and Methodius Day July 5 Fixed
Jan Hus Day July 6 Fixed
Czech Statehood Day September 28 Fixed
Independence Day October 28 Fixed
Freedom Day November 17 Fixed
Christmas Eve December 24 Fixed
Christmas Day December 25 Fixed
St. Stephen's Day December 26 Fixed

Holiday Pay Rules

  • Eligibility: All employees are entitled to public holiday pay
  • Rate: Regular daily wage (no premium required)
  • Working on holidays:
    • Premium pay required (typically double time)
    • Alternative day off may be provided
  • Holiday falling on weekend: No substitute day provided

Regional Variations

Czech Republic does not have regional public holidays. All statutory holidays apply nationwide.

Required Documentation

Employment Contract Requirements:

  • Job title and description
  • Salary and benefits
  • Working hours and location
  • Notice periods
  • Probationary period (if applicable)

Employee Documentation:

  • Identity verification: Valid ID or passport
  • Social security number: Required for payroll
  • Tax information: Tax residence declaration
  • Bank details: For salary payments
  • Health insurance: Proof of coverage
  • Work permits: For non-EU citizens

Legal Compliance

Work Authorization:

  • EU citizens: No work permit required
  • Non-EU citizens: Work permit and residence permit required
  • Blue Card: Available for highly skilled workers

Background Checks:

  • Criminal record check: Permitted for relevant positions
  • Employee consent: Required for all background checks
  • Data protection: Must comply with GDPR requirements

Contractual Elements

Mandatory clauses:

  • Probationary period: Up to 3 months (6 for managers)
  • Confidentiality: Protection of business information
  • IP assignment: Ownership of work-related intellectual property
  • Non-compete: Limited scope and duration (max 1 year)

Data Protection Compliance

  • GDPR compliance: All employee data handling must comply
  • Consent requirements: Explicit consent for data processing
  • Data retention: Clear policies on data storage and deletion
  • Cross-border transfers: Special requirements for data outside EU

Implementation Timeline

Step Timeline
Job offer accepted Day 0
Employment contract signed Day 1-3
Work permit application (if needed) Day 1-30
Social security registration Day 5-7
Health insurance enrollment Day 5-7
Payroll setup completed Day 7-10
Employee handbook provided Day 1-5

Worker Classification

Czech labour law distinguishes between employees and independent contractors:

Employees:

  • Work under employer direction and control
  • Entitled to all labour law protections
  • Employer withholds taxes and social contributions
  • Receive paid leave and benefits

Independent Contractors:

  • Operate independently with minimal supervision
  • Invoice for services provided
  • Responsible for own taxes and social security
  • No entitlement to employee benefits

Misclassification risks: Significant penalties and back-payment of contributions if contractors are reclassified as employees.

Collective Bargaining

  • Union presence: Moderate unionisation rate across industries
  • Collective agreements: Can override standard labour law provisions (usually favourably for employees)
  • Consultation requirements: Employee representatives must be consulted on certain business decisions
  • Strike rights: Legal but subject to procedural requirements

Cultural Workplace Norms

Communication style:

  • Direct but polite communication preferred
  • Formal address (using titles) common initially
  • Punctuality highly valued

Work-life balance:

  • Standard business hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Lunch breaks: Typically 30-60 minutes
  • Vacation timing: Many take extended summer holidays

Professional development:

  • Continuing education valued
  • Language skills (especially English) important
  • Technical certifications respected

Remote Work Considerations

Legal framework:

  • Home office agreements required for regular remote work
  • Employer must provide necessary equipment or reimburse costs
  • Health and safety obligations extend to home offices
  • Working time regulations still apply

Tax implications:

  • No special tax treatment for remote work expenses
  • Cross-border remote work may create tax complications
  • Social security obligations remain with Czech employer

What Borderless AI Handles

When you hire through Borderless AI in Czech Republic, we manage:

  • Contract creation: Compliant employment agreements in Czech
  • Payroll processing: Monthly salary payments and tax withholdings
  • Social security: Registration and contribution payments
  • Compliance monitoring: Ongoing adherence to labour law changes
  • Local representation: Acting as the legal employer entity
  • Employee support: HR guidance in local language and timezone

Built-in benefits packages for
Czech Republic

When the world is your competition, it pays to incentivize new hires and existing alike. Borderless AI benefits packages typically inlucde:

Medical Insurance

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Dental Insurance

United Healthcare
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Retirement Contribution

United Healthcare
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Life Insurance

United Healthcare
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Vision Insurance

United Healthcare
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