FreelanXCountry guidesVerified Oct 202627 countries · 6 regions
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Contracts, employer cost, working time, leave, termination, freelancers and work permits, country by country. Every figure carries its legal source and the month we last checked it.
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Notice, holidays and pay, side by side.
Five figures from every country guide: employer notice, public holidays, paid leave, minimum wage and employer contributions. Open a country for the rules behind them and their sources.
DEGermanyEurope4 weeks to the 15th or month-end, under 2 years9 national, up to 4 more by state20 working days (5-day week)€13.90 per hour (2026)About 21% of gross pay, plus leviesOpen the guideFRFranceEuropeDismissal: none by law under 6 months, 1 month from 6 months, 2 months from 2 years; collective agreements often longer11 national public holidays (only 1 May is legally compulsory as a paid day off)30 working days (Monday to Saturday count), equal to 5 weeks€12.02 per hour, €1,823.03 per month for 35 hours (1 Jan 2026)About 40% to 45% of gross pay at professional salary levels, before location-based itemsOpen the guideITItalyEuropeSet by CCNL and level. Example (Terziario, under 5 years): 20 to 60 days12 national public holidays (incl. Easter Sunday), plus local patron saint days4 weeks statutory minimum; CCNL often gives 26 days on a Mon-Sat basis, plus extra leave hoursNo statutory minimum wage. Minimums are set by the sector CCNL (Art. 36 Constitution)About 30% of gross pay to INPS, plus INAIL and a TFR accrual of about 7.4%Open the guideNLNetherlandsEuropeEmployer: 1 month under 5 years of service, but UWV or court approval is required first6 customary public holidays on weekdays in 2026 (Boxing Day falls on a Saturday)4 times the weekly working hours (20 days for a 5-day week), plus 8% holiday allowance€14.71 per hour from 1 Jan 2026; €14.99 per hour from 1 Jul 2026 (age 21+, 40-hour week)About 17% to 20% of gross pay on statutory premiums (capped), plus pension and sector leviesOpen the guideESSpainEurope15 calendar days for objective dismissal; improcedente dismissal pays 33 days per year instead9 nationwide in 2026, plus regional days; at most 14 per year including 2 local30 calendar days per year (about 22 working days)€1,221 per month in 14 payments, €17,094 per year (SMI 2026, RD 126/2026)About 31% to 33% of gross pay up to the monthly cap of €5,101.20Open the guideGBUnited KingdomEuropeStatutory minimum 1 week after 1 month of service, then 1 week per year up to 12 weeks8 bank holidays in England and Wales, 9 in Scotland, 10 in Northern Ireland (2026)5.6 weeks (28 days for a 5-day week), may include bank holidays£12.71 per hour for age 21+ (National Living Wage, from 1 April 2026)Employer NI 15% on pay above £5,000 a year, plus at least 3% pension (auto-enrolment)Open the guideCHSwitzerlandEurope1 month in year 1, 2 months in years 2 to 9, 3 months from year 10 (end of a month)1 federal holiday (1 August); other holidays are set by canton (roughly 8 to 15 days)4 weeks (20 working days); 5 weeks under age 20No national minimum. 2026 cantonal minimums per hour: Geneva CHF 24.59, Basel-Stadt 22.20, Jura 21.40, Neuchatel 21.35, Ticino about 20.00 to 20.50 and up by sectorAbout 12% to 15% of gross pay (AHV/IV/EO 5.3%, ALV 1.1% up to CHF 148,200, pension, accident, family allowance, sickness insurance)Open the guideUSUnited StatesNorth AmericaNone by law (at-will); contract or policy may set notice11 federal holidays (private employers need not give them)No federal paid leave; PTO set by contract or state law$7.25 per hour federal; many states higher (California $16.90, New York $16.00 to $17.00 in 2026)About 8% to 12% of gross pay (FICA 7.65%, FUTA, state unemployment, workers' comp), before health benefitsOpen the guideCACanadaNorth AmericaOntario ESA: 1 week per year of service up to 8 weeks, plus severance pay in some cases; common-law notice is often longerOntario 9 public holidays; federal 9; Quebec 8; BC 11; Alberta 9Ontario: 2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 5 years (federal and some provinces differ)Ontario C$17.95 per hour from 1 Oct 2026 (C$17.60 before); federal C$18.15 from 1 Apr 2026; other provinces differAbout 6 to 9% of gross for a professional salary (CPP, CPP2, EI, plus WSIB and possibly EHT in Ontario)Open the guideBRBrazilLatin America30 days plus 3 days per completed year of service, up to 90 days10 national public holidays in 2026 (state and city holidays come on top)30 calendar days after 12 months, paid with a 1/3 bonus (about 4.3 weeks)R$1,621 per month (federal, from 1 Jan 2026); some states set higher regional floorsAbout 36% of gross pay: INSS 20%, FGTS 8%, third-party levies about 5.8%, plus RAT 0.5% to 6%Open the guideMXMexicoLatin AmericaNo statutory employer notice period; dismissal without cause is paid as severance (3 months plus 20 days per year of service)7 statutory public holidays in 2026 (all fall on weekdays)12 working days in year 1, rising by 2 days a year to 20 in year 5, plus 25% vacation premiumMX$315.04 per day general zone; MX$440.87 per day northern border free zone (2026)About 21% to 28% of pay: IMSS, SAR, INFONAVIT 5% and state payroll tax (ISN, about 2% to 4%)Open the guideARArgentinaLatin America1 month under 5 years of service, 2 months from 5 years; none required during probation under Law 27.80211 fixed national holidays, plus movable holidays and bridge days (about 15 days off in total)14 calendar days (under 5 years of service), up to 35 daysAR$391,200 per month (1 Oct 2026, rises monthly; AR$406,400 from 1 Dec 2026)About 26.4% of gross pay (20.4% social security + 6% obra social), plus ART; 24% for MiPyME employersOpen the guideAUAustraliaAsia-Pacific1 to 4 weeks by tenure (1 more week if over 45 with 2+ years), unless the award or contract gives moreAbout 8 to 10 public holidays, set partly by each state4 weeks paid annual leave (20 days on a 5-day week), plus 10 days personal/carer leaveA$26.44 per hour, A$1,004.90 per week (from 1 Jul 2026, +4.75%)Superannuation 12% of ordinary time earnings, plus state payroll tax and workers compensationOpen the guideJPJapanAsia-PacificDismissal: 30 days' notice or pay in lieu of notice, regardless of tenure; the dismissal must also be objectively reasonable (Art. 16 LCA)16 national holidays plus 2 substitute or bridging holidays in 2026 (18 days); employers are not legally required to give them as days off10 days after 6 months of service, rising to 20 days from 6.5 years; 5 days must be taken each year once entitled to 10 or moreNational weighted average ¥1,177 per hour for FY2026 (prefecture rates ¥1,085 to ¥1,280; Tokyo ¥1,280 from 1 Oct 2026; other prefectures from 1 Oct to 2 Dec 2026)About 15% to 16% of gross pay below the pension cap (about ¥7.8M a year); lower share above it. Tokyo, Kyokai Kenpo health planOpen the guideKRSouth KoreaAsia-Pacific30 days written notice or 30 days' average wage in lieu (after 3 months of service)About 16 weekday public holidays in 2026, including substitute days15 days after year 1 (80% attendance), plus 1 day per 2 years after year 3, up to 25 days₩10,320 per hour from 1 Jan 2026 (about ₩2,156,880 per month at 209 hours)About 11.4% of gross pay for the four insurances, plus about 8.3% severance accrualOpen the guideSGSingaporeAsia-PacificAs per contract; if silent, 1 day to 4 weeks by length of service11 public holidays; Sunday holidays moved to Monday (3 in 2026)7 days in year 1, rising 1 day a year to 14 days (about 1.4 to 2.8 weeks)No national minimum wage (Progressive Wage Model applies to some sectors only)17% CPF for citizens/PRs (age 55 and below) plus 0.25% SDL; no CPF for EP/S Pass holdersOpen the guideHKHong Kong SARAsia-PacificFree to agree; default 1 month after probation, 7 days in probation after month 115 statutory holidays in 2026 (17 general holidays offered by most employers)7 days after 1 year, rising by 1 day a year to 14 days (statutory minimum)HK$43.1 per hour from 1 May 2026 (HK$42.1 from 1 May 2025)MPF 5% of relevant income, max HK$1,500 per month, plus compensation insurance (about 0.2% to 1%)Open the guideINIndiaAsia-PacificSet by contract, standing orders or state Shops Act; commonly 1 to 3 months3 national days (26 Jan, 15 Aug, 2 Oct) plus state lists, usually 8 to 15 daysTypically 12 to 30 days by state (1 day per 20 days worked under the Code); set by state lawSet by state and skill; no single national figure. Central floor wage not yet notified per skill (2026)About 13% to 14% of basic wages (EPF/EPS/EDLI/admin), plus gratuity accrual of about 4.8% of basicOpen the guideMYMalaysiaAsia-Pacific4 weeks under 2 years of service (6 weeks for 2 to 5 years, 8 weeks over 5), if the contract is silent11 paid gazetted public holidays (5 fixed by law, 6 chosen by employer); state dates vary8 / 12 / 16 days by service (under 2 / 2 to 5 / over 5 years)RM 1,700 per month for all employers since 1 Aug 2025 (RM 1,700 from 1 Feb 2025 for 5+ staff). No change in force for 2026; a review is under wayAbout 15 to 16% of gross pay (EPF 12 to 13%, SOCSO 1.75%, EIS 0.2%, HRD Corp 1% where it applies)Open the guideAEUnited Arab EmiratesGCC30 to 90 days as agreed in the contract, same for both sides; 14 days written notice during probationAbout 9 to 10 public holiday days in 2026 (Islamic dates depend on moon sighting)30 calendar days per year onshore (about 4.3 weeks); 20 working days in DIFC and ADGMNo general minimum wage for private-sector expatriates. A minimum of AED 6,000 per month applies to Emirati nationals in the private sector since 1 January 2026.No social security for expatriates. Employer cost is end-of-service gratuity accrual (about 5.8% to 8.3% of basic pay) plus health insurance and permit feesOpen the guideSASaudi ArabiaGCCIndefinite contract: employer 60 days (monthly pay), employee 30 days. None during probationAbout 10 paid public holiday days: Founding Day, two Eids, Arafat Day, National Day21 days a year, 30 days after 5 consecutive years with the same employerNo general private-sector minimum wage. SAR 4,000 per month is the benchmark for a Saudi to count fully for SaudizationExpatriates: 2% GOSI plus SAR 800 per month levy. Saudis: about 11.75% to 12.75% of basic pay plus housingOpen the guideQAQatarGCC1 month under 2 years of service; 2 months after 2 yearsAbout 8 to 10 paid public holiday days (Eid dates estimated)3 weeks paid (4 weeks after 5 years of service)QAR 1,000 basic plus QAR 300 food and QAR 500 housing if not provided (in force since 20 Mar 2021; no 2026 change found)No social insurance for expatriates. 14% for Qatari nationals only. Gratuity accrual about 5.8% of basic pay.Open the guideDZAlgeriaAfricaSet by the collective agreement; 2 paid hours a day to look for work14 paid public holiday days (each Eid lasts 3 days)2.5 days per month worked, up to 30 calendar days a yearDZD 24,000 per month (SNMG, from 1 January 2026)25% of gross pay (CNAS), plus 0.5% for the social housing fundOpen the guideMAMoroccoAfrica8 days to 3 months, by category and length of service15 paid public holidays in 2026 (11 civil, 4 religious)1.5 working days per month (18 a year), more with seniorityMAD 17.92 per hour (SMIG, non-agricultural, from 1 January 2026)About 21% of gross pay (CNSS, AMO, training tax), plus work accident insuranceOpen the guideNGNigeriaAfrica1 day to 1 month, by length of serviceAbout 13 public holiday days in 2026At least 6 working days after 12 months (Labour Act)₦70,000 per month (employers with 25+ workers, since July 2024)About 12% of pay: pension 10%, NSITF 1%, ITF 1%Open the guideZASouth AfricaAfrica1 to 4 weeks, by length of service12 public holidays21 consecutive days a year (15 working days)R30.23 per hour (from 1 March 2026)About 2% of pay (UIF 1% capped, SDL 1%), plus COIDAOpen the guideSNSenegalAfricaSet by the national collective agreement, by category14 public holidays in 20262 working days per month of serviceXOF 64,223 per month (SMIG, 40-hour week)About 18% of capped pay (CSS, IPRES, IPM), plus 3% CFCEOpen the guide
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From each country guide, checked October 2026, where every figure carries its legal source. General information, not legal advice.