Information for Employees
Seasonal labour
Seasonal labour is precisely defined. It is possible only for a period of three months per calendar year and only in the following sectors of the economy:
- Agriculture and forestry
- The hotel, restaurant and catering sector
- Fruit and vegetable processing
- Sawmills
From January 1, 2026, the general statutory minimum wage will be 13,90 euros gross per hour.
Who works in the hotel, restaurant and catering sector, in agriculture or at Christmas markets for less than 70 days each year is not covered by social security or unemployment insurance. However, this applies only to those who work occasionally in a non-professional capacity. In other words, wages from such work must not be sufficient to cover a person’s living expenses.
You may be seasonally employed as a cross-border worker, although many employers also offer overnight accommodations. Before leaving your home country, you should find out whether accommodations will be available and, if so, how much you will have to pay for them.
Further information on this topic is provided at: