logo blftrade

Home > Country profiles > Operating a Business

flag Hungary Hungary: Operating a Business

Legal Forms of Companies | The Active Population in Figures | Working Conditions | The Cost of Labor | Management of Human Resources

Legal Forms of Companies

Types of Companies and Capital (Max/Min) Number of Partners/Shareholders and Liability
Korlatolt felelosségû tarsasag (Kft) is a Private Limited Company
 
Minimum of HUF 500,000
No limitation.
 
Liability is limited to the amount contributed.
Részvény tarsasag (Rt) is a Public Limited Company
 
Minimum HUF 5 - 20 million
No limitation.
 
Liability is limited to the amount contributed.
Közkereseti tarsasag (Kft) is a general partnership
 
No minimum capital
No limitation.
 
Partners' liability is several and indefinite.
Betéti tarsasag (Bt) is a limited partnership
 
No minimum capital
Two types of partners: active partners (General Partner) and sleeping partners (Limited Partner).
 
Unlimited liability for at least one partner (General Partner). Unlimited liability for at least one sleeping partner (Limited Partner).
 
 

Business Setup Procedures

Setting Up a Company Hungary Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Procedures (number) 4.00 6.30
Time (days) 4.00 16.30

Source: Doing Business.

 
For Further Information
Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in Hungary.
Trade Register, only in Hungarian.
The Competent Organization
The Commercial Register.
 

Recovery Procedures

Principle
More information on Hungary website.
Minimum Debt-to-Capital Ratio Triggering Liquidation
More information on Hungary website.
Bankruptcy Laws
Law VI. Of the year 2006 (only in Hungarian).
Criminal Bankruptcy.
Banruptcy an liquidation procedures.
Reorganization and Rehabilitation Laws
Law VI. Of the year 2006 (only in Hungarian).
Terminating a company.

Return to top

The Active Population in Figures

2010
Labor Force 4,300,000

Source: CIA - The world factbook

 
20092010
Total activity rate -50.10%
Men activity rate 58.80%-
Women activity rate 42.50%-

Source: UN - United Nations

 
Employed Persons, by Occupation (% of Total Labor Force) 2007
Agriculture 5.0%
Mining 0.4%
Processing industry 22.4%
Electrical energy, gas, water 1.7%
Construction 8.1%
Commerce, service 15.1%
Tourism 4.0%
Transport, post, telecom 7.3%
Finance 2.0%
other economic 7.1%
Administration 7.2%
education 8.3%
Healthcare 6.8%
other service 4.6%

Source: Hungary website

 
For Further Statistics
Labor administration and national statistics office.
For Further Information About the Labor Market
Magyarorszag, Hungary website
Public Employment service

Return to top

Working Conditions

Opening Hours
 
  • Legal Weekly Duration
40 hours per week
  • Maximum Duration
60 hours per week
  • Night Hours
Work carried out between 22 hours and 6 hours is classified as night work.
Working Rest Day
A 48 hours rest period is required during any seven day period.
Paid Annual Vacation
The standard number of days of annual leave is 21. The amount of days of holiday will increase according to your age. The older you are the more days of holiday you get. Example: 21 days from age 25, 22 days from age 28, 23 days from age 31, 24 days from age 33, 25 days from age 35, etc.
Retirement Age
20 years in service and minimum 62 years.
Child Labor and Minimum Age For Employment
The law protects children from exploitation in the workplace. Children under 16 are prohibited from working, except under certain conditions, such as temporary work during school vacations for those between 14 and 16. Children may not work night shifts, overtime, or at hard physical labor.
Informal Labor Market
Quite important especially on construction sites and cash related jobs (hairdresser, plumber, etc).

Return to top

The Cost of Labor

Pay

Minimum Wage
65.500 HUF (262 EUR).
Average Wage
Average monthly gross earnings in Hungary is HUF 191,930 (USD 1,000).
Other Forms of Pay
  • Pay For Overtime
+25% - 50% depending on the overtime
  • Pay For Rest Days Worked
According to collective agreements
  • Pay For Night Hours
10-25%
  • Pay For Overtime at Night
Like overtime
 

Social Security Costs

The Areas Covered
The Hungarian social insurance system contains the following elements:
- Health service (although there is a public healthcare system, private health insurance is considered very important by Hungarians. Many foreigners living/working in Hungary invest in private healthcare cover or negotiate cover as part of their employment conditions.)
- Social care
- Family and Child welfare
- Pensions and assistances
- Unemployment assistance
- Education.
Contributions
Contributions Paid By the Employer: Medical insurance 1950 HUF
social security 11%
pension insurance 18%
unemployment insurance 3%
training contribution 1,5%
Contributions Paid By the Employee: Social security is paid by employees at the follow amounts: pension contribution: 8.5%, health care contribution: 4%, Unemployment contribution: 1%.
Competent Organization
Social and Employment MInistry
Social security

Return to top

Management of Human Resources

 

Recruitment

Method of Recruitment
Newspaper, headhunters, Internet, fairs.
Recruitment Agencies
Addeco, EastEuroCo Executive Search Group, Telkes Consulting Incorporated, HILL International.
Recruitment Websites
Job Monitor
Job Pilot
 

The Contract

Type of Contract
Full- and part-time contracts, assignment contracts, outsourcing contracts. More information on Just Landed website.
Breach of Contracts
 
  • Retirement
The old-age retirement age limit is 62 for both man and woman. Details of early retirement and pre-early retirements on Hungary website.
  • Dismissals
In Hungary, the statutory notice period ranges from 30 days (after up to 3 years of service) to 90 days (after 20 years of service). For half of the notice period, the employee must be exempted from work. Severance pay amounts to one monthly wage after 3 years of service and gradually increases to 6 monthly wages after 25 years of service.
Details in the Labour Code of Hungary, law XXII of the year 1992.
  • Other Possible Methods
Details in the Labour Code of Hungary, law XXII of the year 1992.
Labor Laws
Labour Code of Hungary, law XXII of the year 1992
 

Dispute Settlement

 

Conciliation Process

Cases of Dispute
Bad behavior at work, sexual harassement, psychological harassement, etc.
  • Procedure
Labour Code of Hungary, law XXII of the year 1992
 

Judicial Structures

  • Legal Framework
Labour Code of Hungary, law XXII of the year 1992
 

Social Partners

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners
The law allows unions to conduct their activities without interference, and the government protects this right in practice. Collective bargaining is protected by law, and it was freely practiced. Approximately 40 percent of the workforce is covered by collective bargaining agreements (almost 3,000 collective bargaining agreements existed). Workers have the right to strike, and workers exercise this right in practice.
Unionization Rate
40%
Unions
Cooperation Forum of Unions
National Organization of Hungarian Unions
Regulation Bodies
Ministry of Labor

Return to top

Any Comments About This Content? Report It to Us.

 
 
Learn more about Operating a Business in Hungary on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.
 

© Export Entreprises SA, All Rights Reserved.
Last Updates: May 2012

TERMS & CONDITIONS | SITEMAP | FAQ | VIDEOS | CONTACT
English
Francais
Country profiles Best trading countries Import-Export flows Market reports search Professional reviews Consumption Data Business alert
Online directories Qualified list of prospects Professional associations Trade shows Your export selling price Landed cost calculator Currency convertor Measurement convertor Translate your documents Test your product Marketplaces directory
Shipping Documents Labelling rules Standards International customs classification no. Local customs classification no. Customs duties and local taxes Export controls Import controls
Presentation Our services Our publications Contact