Hiring in Greece? Choose the route before the paperwork chooses for you.

Greece is a strategic EU foothold and a magnet for talent, but it is also one of its most regulated labour markets. Greece pays wages in 14 instalments a year, not 12, and dismissal protection is strict, so the wrong employment model is expensive to unwind. We help you choose the right way to hire, place you with the right partner, and stay alongside you for the life of the relationship.

  • Independent advice
  • Vetted partners
  • On your side at renewal

A good hiring market with an unforgiving filing calendar.

Greece is a cost-effective EU economy with a young, skilled workforce and a fast-growing services and tourism-tech sector, but with meaningful worker protections built into the system. It is also a market where employment is closely regulated, social contributions are substantial, and getting compliance right from day one matters more than almost anywhere else in Europe.

01

Cost-effective EU foothold

Full EU access at competitive salary costs, a young multilingual workforce, and a growing services and tourism-tech sector.

02

Highly regulated labour market

Greece pays wages in 14 instalments a year, not 12, a mandatory Christmas bonus plus split Easter and summer allowances, and dismissal protection is strict, so your employment structure has to be chosen with care.

03

Independent expert advice

Not sure whether you need EOR, PEO, or an IKE? We map your headcount, timeline, and risk profile and give you a clear recommendation, not a product pitch.

Four ways to hire in Greece. The wrong one is expensive.

Most businesses arrive having already decided, and often decided too quickly. Here is the honest version of each route. When one fits, the detailed guide is one click away.

Employer of Record

An EOR partner becomes the legal employer of your Greek staff, handling the contract, payroll, tax, and compliance, while you direct the work. Operational in weeks, no entity needed. Best for testing the market or hiring a small team.

Learn more

Global Payroll

For when you already have a Greek entity, or want to consolidate payroll across several countries under one process. You stay the legal employer; a specialist partner runs compliant Greek payroll, including income tax and the five social insurance contributions.

Learn more

Entity Formation (IKE)

Your own Greek company, typically an IKE (the private limited company). Full control and a local presence, with no per-employee fees, but formation takes weeks (notarisation, commercial register entry, minimum capital), you cannot employ anyone until it completes, and the ongoing obligations are real. Right when the headcount and permanence justify it.

Learn more

PEO Services

A co-employment model where you and the partner share the employer role. Less common in Greece than EOR, and right only for specific structures. We will tell you honestly if it fits, or if EOR is simpler.

Learn more

Greece at a glance

Currency

Euro (EUR). In the eurozone since 2001, so salaries and filings run in the same currency as most of your EU operation.

Minimum wage (2026)

€920 per month from 1 April 2026 (up from €880), paid in 14 annual instalments, the statutory floor for full-time work.

Employer costs

Employer social contributions are approximately 21.79% of gross salary, covering primary and supplementary pension, healthcare, and unemployment insurance. Contributions apply only up to the 2026 e-EFKA ceiling of EUR 7,761.94/month; above that, only income tax continues, not social security.

Leave & Notice

20 working days statutory annual leave (28 calendar days). No statutory notice applies under 12 months’ service; after that it runs 1 to 4 months by tenure.

Hiring in Greece: what to know first

The questions we are asked most about hiring in Greece.

What is the fastest way to hire someone in Greece?

An Employer of Record. Your hire can start in days, with a compliant Greek contract from day one and no entity to set up. It is the lowest-risk way to test the market or place a small team. The detail is on our Greece EOR guide.

Do I need a Greek entity to hire?

No. With an EOR you can employ people in Greece without your own company. You only need an entity (typically an IKE) when you are committing to a permanent, larger presence, and we will tell you honestly when that point arrives.

Strong statutory employment protections, works-council rights, and substantial social contributions. None of it is a problem when handled correctly, which is the point of getting the model right at the start.

We are independent: we assess what you actually need, place you with the right vetted partner, secure pricing you will not get going direct, and stay on your side to escalate or renegotiate. You get advice, not a product pitch.

Let’s scope your Greece hire.

Tell us who you want to hire and where you are headed in Greece. One conversation maps your options, flags the risks, and usually gets you to a better answer, and better pricing, than going direct. No pitch.

Tax and labour data verified June 2026 (official Greek sources, PwC, OECD). Figures change; we confirm the current position when we scope your hire.