Employment context and job conditions
Know your rights: labor law
Your work contract for Munich, Germany is ready to be signed? Know your rights and responsibilities! Learn about working hours, worker protection, contracts, and more: With “Make it in Munich“, you will find out all you need to know about your German work contract and general job conditions – before signing.
Why Munich?
Munich offers amazing career opportunities, high salaries, and a very desirable standard of living. Find out more here.
Understanding labor law in Germany
As an international worker, you are protected under German labor laws, which ensure fair treatment, proper contracts, and worker rights. Here is what you need to know:
- Employment contracts:
Your contract will outline your duties, pay, working hours, and vacation days. For details, you can check this guide to employment contracts. Additional information is available in a downloadable guide from the Federal Employment Agency (“Arbeitsagentur“) - Worker protection:
Labor laws guarantee safe working conditions and rights to vacation and fair pay. - Working hours:
- Standard: 8 hours/day, around 40 hours/week – overtime is regulated
- For a detailed overview, have a look here.
- Taxes and social security:
Legal employment ensures contributions to health insurance, pension, and unemployment benefits
Both you and your employer share these costs. - Avoid “Schwarzarbeit“ (illegal work):
Working without proper registration is illegal and carries severe penalties (fines or jail)
Legal employment protects your rights and guarantees access to state benefits.
Important: Get your reference letter!
In Germany you are legally entitled to receive a “Zeugnis” (reference letter) when you leave a job (the contract ends, you are fired or you quit). This a reference letter written by your former employer. Be sure to ask for your reference, as it will help you with future job applications
You can find more information about work certificates here.
The trade union ver.di has a comprehensive document on everything you need to know about references – from good and bad references to hidden meanings (page in German).
Do you need more information? Here, you get an overview of the general structure and typologies of references.
Good to know:
The “Fair Integration” advice center offers consultations to third country nationals from third countries (outside the EU) already living in Germany. You can contact them with any questions about employment law, social legislation, or problems you may face at work.
