Employment law · Greece
Employment contract lawyer in Greece
Employment disputes in Greece turn on codified statute, written contracts and short procedural deadlines. Tell us what happened — a dismissal, an unpaid salary, a contract you are being asked to sign — and we match you with a Greek lawyer who handles employment contract work. Free, confidential and without obligation.
- Dismissal, severance, unpaid wages and contract review
- Lawyers registered with Greek Bar Associations
- Free match, usually within 24–48 hours
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Employment contracts · Greece
Employment contracts in Greece: what the law expects
Greek employment relationships rest on codified statute rather than binding precedent, so the wording of your contract, the way it has been applied in practice and the procedural steps taken once a dispute arises all shape the outcome. Whether you are an employee facing a dismissal, a severance figure you cannot verify or wages that were never paid, or an employer who needs a contract that holds up, an employment contract lawyer in Greece can map your position against the Civil Code and the labour rules that apply. We do not give legal advice. We listen to your situation, then match you with a lawyer from a Greek Bar Association who works on employment contracts, so you can decide your next step with someone qualified to represent you before the Greek courts.
Greece in practice
How employment contract matters work in Greece
Greek employment law is codified, procedural and driven by deadlines, which is why similar facts can end very differently depending on how quickly and how precisely they are presented. Here is a factual overview of how the system works in Greece and what tends to matter most.
Where employment contract disputes are heard
Greece follows the continental civil-law model, and employment disputes belong to the civil jurisdiction. Most employment claims begin before the Magistrates’ Courts or the Courts of First Instance, with appeals heard by the Courts of Appeal. The Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) handles labour matters in its civil chambers, but it reviews only the legal correctness of decisions, not the facts, and its rulings are not formally binding precedent.
Who is allowed to represent you
Membership of a local Bar Association is compulsory in order to practise law in Greece. Under Article 4 of the Code of Lawyers (Law 4194/2013), a lawyer must pass the nationwide bar examinations, obtain an appointment decision published in the Government Gazette, take the statutory oath and be entered in a Bar register. Article 1 treats the lawyer as a public functionary bound by professional secrecy.
Dismissal, severance and the abuse-of-right limit
Termination of an open-ended employment contract in Greece is in principle without cause: the employer need not state reasons. The dismissal must still respect the prohibition of abuse of rights under Article 281 of the Civil Code. Termination without statutory notice triggers full severance, rising with service from two to twelve months’ pay; with notice, half severance. Discriminatory dismissals are null and void and the burden of proof shifts to the employer.
Deadlines that decide an employment claim
Two short periods dominate dismissal disputes in Greece: three months to claim that the dismissal is invalid, and six months to pursue statutory severance. Neither follows the long general civil limitation period of twenty years, and neither is extended by negotiation. Periodic and professional-fee claims follow a five-year period, while tort claims run for five years with a twenty-year absolute limit.
What legal costs to expect in Greece
A lawyer’s fee in Greece is freely determined by written agreement with the client, covering the whole proceedings, part of them or specific acts (Article 58, Code of Lawyers). Without a written agreement, the statutory scale applies and fees carry 24% VAT. Court fees include a proportional stamp duty of 4 or 8 per mille plus a 30% surcharge, and legal aid under Law 3226/2004 may assist low-income applicants.
Key time limit — Employment Law
Challenge of dismissal (wrongful or unfair dismissal) — 3 months (invalidity) / 6 months (severance). Three months to claim the dismissal is invalid; six months to pursue statutory severance.
All country data on this page is taken from official Greek bodies, the European e-Justice Portal and published Greek legislation, as consulted for this page in 2025.
- National justice systems: Greece – European e-Justice Portal
- Code of Lawyers (Law 4194/2013), Bar Associations and the status of the lawyer – Plenary of the Presidents of the Greek Bar Associations
- Greek Civil Code – Hellenic Ministry of Justice
- Termination of an open-ended employment contract – Hellenic Ministry of Labour
- Dismissal and notice in Greek labour legislation – HLI
- Costs of legal proceedings in Greece – European e-Justice Portal
- Inheritance tax return filing – Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE)
- Tax obligations arising from loss of life (renunciation of inheritance) – AADE
- Divorce and legal separation in Greece – European e-Justice Portal
Typical problems
What clients bring to us before they speak to a lawyer
Most employment questions in Greece are time-sensitive, which is why people contact us while the situation is still open rather than after it has been decided.
A termination letter with no stated reason
Open-ended contracts can be ended without a stated cause, so a letter may look perfectly valid on its face. What decides the outcome is how severance, notice, good faith and abuse-of-right limits apply to your facts.
Deadlines running from the wrong date
A dismissal challenge and a severance claim do not run on the same clock, and neither follows Greece’s long general limitation period. Three months and six months pass quickly while you are still gathering payslips and correspondence.
Contract clauses you never negotiated
Probation wording, variable pay, place-of-work clauses and non-compete promises are usually signed without discussion. Years later they determine what you are owed or what you may do next, which is why an early contract review is rarely wasted.
Free matching
How our matching works for Greece
One short description from you, one qualified Greek lawyer in return, and no charge for the introduction.
Employment contract specialists
We match you with Greek lawyers who work on employment contracts, dismissals, severance and workplace disputes, so you are not explaining your payslip to a generalist.
Free and without obligation
Describing your situation and receiving a match costs nothing. You decide whether to instruct the lawyer and on what terms, agreed in writing in advance.
Confidential from the first message
Your contract, emails and payslips are shared only with the lawyer matched to you. Greek lawyers are bound by professional secrecy under the Code of Lawyers.
24–48 hours, not weeks
We read what you send us and come back with a matched lawyer, usually within one to two working days, in the language you wrote to us in.
Across Europe
Cross-border employment situations
If your employer, contract, payroll or place of work sits in more than one country, you may need advice in each jurisdiction. We match clients with employment lawyers across Europe.
Questions and answers
Employment contracts in Greece: frequently asked questions
What does an employment contract lawyer in Greece do for me?
A Greek employment lawyer reviews the contract you have signed or are about to sign, checks whether its terms comply with Greek law, and represents you in disputes over dismissal, severance, unpaid wages or working conditions. They can also handle correspondence with your employer and appear before the Greek courts if a claim becomes necessary.
Can my Greek employer dismiss me without giving a reason?
Greece allows termination of an open-ended employment contract without cause, and the employer is not obliged to state reasons. That does not make every dismissal safe: it must respect the prohibition of abuse of rights under Article 281 of the Civil Code and the limits of good faith. Discriminatory or retaliatory dismissals are null and void, and the burden of proof shifts to the employer.
How long do I have to challenge a dismissal in Greece?
Two separate windows apply. You have three months to claim that the dismissal is invalid, and six months to pursue statutory severance. The general twenty-year limitation period for civil claims does not cover these, so waiting is risky. Periodic and professional-fee claims, by contrast, are generally subject to a five-year period.
Do I need a lawyer who is a member of a Greek Bar Association?
Yes. Membership of a local Bar Association is compulsory in order to practise law in Greece, and only a registered Greek lawyer may represent you before the courts. Under Article 6 of the Code of Lawyers, Greek, EU or EEA citizenship is normally required, with limited exceptions for third-country nationals.
How are lawyers’ fees for employment cases set in Greece?
Fees are freely agreed in writing with your lawyer and may cover the whole case, part of it or individual acts, under Article 58 of the Code of Lawyers. Where there is no written agreement, the statutory scale based on the value of the matter applies. Fees carry 24% VAT, and legal aid under Law 3226/2004 may be available on income grounds.
What happens if my employment case goes to appeal in Greece?
Employment claims begin in the Magistrates’ Courts or the Courts of First Instance, and appeals are heard by the Courts of Appeal. Above them, the Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) reviews only the legal correctness of the decision; it does not re-examine the facts, and there is no third instance on the merits. Its rulings are not formally binding precedent.
Next step
Speak to an employment contract lawyer in Greece
Send us a short description of your situation — the type of contract, what changed and any letter or email you have received. We will match you with a Greek employment lawyer free of charge, usually within 24–48 hours, and you decide what to do next.