European Employment Contract Checklist: Gross vs Net, Probation, Hours, and Rights
A factual checklist of standard terms and statutory requirements under European Directive (EU) 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions.
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Direct Short Answer
Under EU Directive 2019/1152, all workers in the EU must receive essential written terms of employment within 7 days of starting work. A valid contract must state gross remuneration, payment method, working hours, probation limits (maximum 6 months by default), notice periods, and applicable collective agreements.
Key Conditions & Legal Constraints
- •Contracts specify GROSS pay (bruto), never guaranteed net pay (netto), because personal income tax depends on individual tax class, family status, and deductions.
- •EU Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC) limits maximum working hours to 48 hours per week on average, including overtime, with mandatory 11 consecutive hours of daily rest.
- •Probationary periods cannot exceed 6 months under EU Directive 2019/1152, unless specifically justified by the nature of the employment or collective agreement.
- •Employers cannot prohibit workers from taking parallel employment outside their contracted hours, unless objective conflicts of interest exist.
Practical Procedural Steps
Verify the currency and payment period
Check whether the contract pays on a 12-month basis or includes 13th/14th month payments (common in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, and Austria).
Distinguish gross from net compensation
Never assume the figure written in the contract is what enters your bank account. Deductions include mandatory social contributions (pension, health, unemployment) and progressive income tax.
Identify the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
In countries without statutory minimum wages (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Austria), identify which sectoral collective agreement is named in your contract.
Review termination notice and probationary terms
Ensure notice periods comply with national labour law and that probation is clearly defined and capped at 6 months or less.