What is the written employment information duty?
Under section 46 of Hungary’s Labour Code (Act I of 2012), an employer must inform each new employee in writing about the main terms of their employment no later than seven days after the employment starts. This duty (tájékoztatási kötelezettség) sits alongside the written employment contract and covers what the contract does not.
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Schedule a strategy callWhat the information must cover
- who exercises the employer’s rights
- the start date and duration of the employment, the workplace and the job tasks
- daily working time, the days work can be scheduled, possible start and finish times and possible overtime
- how pay is calculated, how often and on which day it is paid, and pay and benefits beyond the base wage
- the number of leave days and how they are calculated and granted
- termination rules, in particular how notice periods are set
- the employer’s training policy, the authority it pays employment taxes to, and whether a collective agreement applies
How it works in practice
The employer does not need to repeat terms already agreed expressly in writing, and can cover working time, pay, leave and termination by referring to the rules that apply. When any of these terms change, the employee must be informed in writing no later than the day the change takes effect. A collective agreement can change these rules only in the employee’s favour.
For work abroad expected to last more than 15 days, the employer must also tell the employee, at least seven days before departure, where and for how long they will work, how they will be paid and the rules on returning home. The seven-day deadline for new hires applies since 2023, when it was cut from fifteen days.
Written information when you hire through an EOR
With TopSource as your Employer of Record in Hungary, your hire receives a written employment contract in Hungarian and the written information the Labour Code requires, both within the legal deadline.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Hungarian employer have to give written employment information?
Seven days from the start of employment. Before 2023 the deadline was fifteen days.
Is the employment contract enough?
Only if it already covers each required term in writing. Anything not expressly agreed in the contract must be given in the written information.
What happens when terms change?
The employer must inform the employee in writing no later than the day the change takes effect.
Related terms in Hungary
- Fixed-Term Employment Limits (Hungary)
- Simplified Employment (Hungary)
- Overtime Cap (Hungary)
- Telework and Home Office Rules (Hungary)
- Additional Leave (Hungary)
- Protected Periods and Dismissal Justification (Hungary)
- Termination by Mutual Agreement (Hungary)
- Non-Compete Agreement (Hungary)
- Works Council and Collective Agreements (Hungary)
- Guest Worker Permit and Single Permit (Hungary)
- Occupational Safety and Medical Aptitude Exam (Hungary)