What Must an Employment Contract Include

Starting a new job usually begins with signing an employment contract. This document outlines the key terms of your employment – what role you will perform, where you will work, and the date your employment starts.

If you’re unsure what an employment contract should include, it’s important to review it carefully before signing. Below, you’ll find an overview of the essential elements required by the Labour Code, along with other important details your employer should provide.

How Employment Is Established

An employment relationship is created by signing a written employment contract between the employee and the employer. The contract must always be in writing, and each party must receive a signed copy. The document defines working conditions and sets out the rights and obligations of both parties.

What an Employment Contract Must Include

Type of Work

The contract must specify the type of work you will perform. This could be, for example, a warehouse worker, production operator, driver, or administrative role.

The job description should be clear enough to define your responsibilities.

Place of Work

Another mandatory element is the place (or places) of work.

This is usually a specific city, site, or production facility. In some cases, multiple locations may be listed – for example, if the job involves working across different sites.

Start Date

The employment contract must also include your start date.

From this date, your employment officially begins, along with your rights and obligations as an employee.

What Else Should Be Included in an Employment Contract

In addition to the mandatory elements, the employer should also provide other important working conditions, either in the contract itself or in a written document.

These typically include:

a more detailed job description,
entitlement to annual leave,
notice period,
weekly working hours and their schedule,
salary amount or method of remuneration,
payday (salary payment date),
information about a collective agreement (if applicable).

What Personal Data an Employer May Request

When signing an employment contract, the employer will need certain personal details, for example for employee records or registration for insurance.

This typically includes:

first and last name (and maiden name, if applicable),
date and place of birth,
permanent address,
personal identification number,
nationality,
health insurance provider,
bank account number for salary payments,
information about your education.

What Information an Employer May Not Request

There are also certain types of information that employers are not allowed to request. Asking for such information would be against the law. If you encounter these questions, it’s important to know that you are not required to answer them.

These include, for example, information about:

nationality,
pregnancy,
family and financial situation,
sexual orientation,
political affiliation,
trade union membership,
religious beliefs.

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