This guide and its series of articles are based on the Employment Bootcamp held at Repat Armenia on December 2025, as well as materials prepared by Mary Grigoryan, Partner at MB Legal (labor, migration, corporate, and business law), and Alina Danielyan, Junior Lawyer at MB Legal (labor, migration, and corporate law). It is intended for repats and foreign professionals in Armenia who need clarity instead of complicated legal jargon.

Part 1 - The Labor Code of Armenia: What You Actually Need to Know as a Repat

A lot of people think of contracts when they hear the term “labor law.” But there’s more to it than that. Labor laws are there to provide security, dignity, and fairness at work. Employees usually face hurdles because they’re not aware of how labor laws are there to protect them.

If you’re a repat living and working in Armenia, chances are you signed or are about to sign a contract you didn’t fully understand. That’s normal. Armenian labor law is detailed, protective, and written in legal language that can feel overwhelming if you’re not a lawyer.

We created this guide to help you slow down, understand your position, and make better decisions. After all, one of the first realities you face is that employment here operates under rules that may differ significantly from what you’re used to. Here’s one key thing to keep in mind:

Contrary to popular belief, the Armenian labor law is designed to protect employees. But, there’s a catch: you need to know how it works.

Why the Labor Code Matters the Moment You Start Working

Many repats assume that “work is work” and that employment rules function more or less the same everywhere. In Armenia, this assumption can cost you time, money, and protection. These are things you need, especially if you’re just starting out.

Here’s what the Labor Code regulates:

• How you are hired
• What your employer must provide
• How working hours and pay are handled
• What happens if the employment relationship ends

The Labor Code applies as soon as you sign an employment contract with an Armenian employer, whether or not you’ve read it, and whether or not your employer explains it clearly.

Understanding the basics will help you:

• Avoid signing unfavorable contracts
• Recognize when something is off
• Protect yourself without escalating situations

Who the Labor Code Applies To (and Who It Doesn’t)

The Armenian Labor Code applies to employment relationships, not to every form of work.

The Labor Code covers you if:

• You have an employment contract with an Armenian company
• You work under the employer’s direction and schedule
• You receive a regular salary as an employee

Your citizenship usually does not remove Labor Code protection. Armenian citizens, dual citizens, and foreign nationals can all fall under the Labor Code if they are employed locally.

However, the Labor Code usually doesn’t apply if:

• You’re working under a service or consultancy contract
• You’re invoicing as an independent contractor
• You’re hired by a foreign company with no local employment relationship

This distinction matters a lot and it’s one of the most common areas where repats unintentionally lose protections.

Employees Cannot Legally Waive Their Rights

One of the most important principles of the Armenian Labor Code, and one many repats are unaware of, is this:

As an employee, you can’t legally renounce the rights guaranteed to you by law, even if you agree to do so in a contract.

This means that if an employment contract includes terms that are less protective than the Labor Code, those terms are overridden by the law.

Let’s see an example:

If a contract states a two-week notice period for termination, but the Labor Code requires a one-month notice, the one-month notice applies, regardless of what was signed.

This principle exists to prevent unequal bargaining power from being used against employees. Even if you voluntarily agreed to a weaker condition, the law still protects you.

What this means for repats in practice:

• Signing an unfavourable clause doesn’t automatically make it enforceable
• Employers cannot “contract out” of mandatory protections
• Written contracts must meet or exceed Labor Code standards

Understanding this single principle already puts you in a much stronger position when reviewing any employment offer.

Employment Contracts: What Must Be in Writing

If you’re being hired as an employee, your contract must be in written form. Verbal agreements are not enough. There have been cases where repats signed digital contracts alone, without receiving physical copies. While this might be the norm at specific companies, you can always demand printed versions of your contract that are signed by both yourself and your employer.

Here’s what you’ll find clearly stated in a valid employment contract:

• Job title and responsibilities
• Salary amount and payment frequency
• Working hours
• Contract duration (fixed-term or indefinite)
• Probation period (if any)
• Grounds for termination

Many repats receive contracts written only in Armenian. While this is legally acceptable, you should never sign something you don’t fully understand.

What to Do Before Signing:

• Ask for a bilingual version or an informal translation
• Take time to review the document
• Clarify vague clauses in writing
• Never rely on “we’ll fix it later” promises

Things are set in stone as soon as a contract is signed, and additions will be difficult to enforce later. That’s why you need to double-check everything before putting ink to paper.

Working Hours, Overtime, and Rest Days

The Armenia Labor Code sets limits on working time, even if workplace culture suggests otherwise.

In general:

• The standard workweek is up to 40 hours
• Daily working hours are typically capped
• Employees are entitled to weekly rest days and annual leave

Overtime is allowed, but it’s regulated. It should:

• Be limited
• Be compensated according to the law
• Not become the default expectation

A common repat issue is being told that “long hours are normal here.” While work culture may vary, legal limits still exist and pushing them comes with consequences.

Practical advice:

• Clarify expectations around overtime early
• Ask how overtime is tracked and compensated
• Keep your own records of working hours

Agreeing to excessive unpaid overtime may weaken your position later, in addition to setting a precedent for unhealthy work-life balance.

Salary, Payment Timing, and Delays

Salary is one of the most sensitive areas governed by the Armenian Labor Code.

Your contract should clearly state:

• Salary amount (gross and net)
• Payment frequency (monthly is standard)
• Payment method

Employers are required to pay salaries on time. Delays aren’t considered normal or acceptable simply because a company is small or new.

If your salary is late:

• Document the delay
• Ask for written clarification
• Watch for repeated patterns, not one-off issues

Important:
Consistently late salary payments can be a warning sign of deeper issues within the company.

Probation Periods: What Many Employees Miss

Probation periods are common in Armenia, but people tend to misunderstand them. A probation period:

• Must be specified in the contract
• Has a legal maximum duration
• Still provides you with certain rights

Being on probation does not mean you have no protection at all. Employers still have obligations, and termination during probation must follow legal procedures.

Before agreeing to probation:

• Check the length
• Understand termination conditions
• Confirm whether salary and benefits differ

Probation should be a trial for both sides instead of a loophole for avoiding responsibility.

Termination Basics: What the Labor Code Sets Out

While a full guide on termination deserves its own article, it’s important to understand the basics early.

Employment can end through:

• Resignation
• Mutual agreement
• Employer-initiated termination

Each scenario has different requirements around notice, documentation, and compensation.

What matters most:
Termination must follow the procedure set out in the Labor Code. Informal dismissals, verbal instructions to “stop coming in,” or sudden access removal without paperwork are red flags.

Common Repat Mistakes to Avoid

Repats often struggle not because the law is unfair, but because expectations don’t match reality.

Common mistakes include:

• Signing contracts without understanding them
• Accepting service contracts instead of employment unknowingly
• Ignoring small issues until they become serious
• Trusting verbal assurances over written terms

Being proactive early is far easier than trying to fix problems later.

A Simple Labor Code Survival Checklist

Before you start working in Armenia, ask yourself:

• Do I know what type of contract I’m signing?
• Is everything important written down?
• Do I understand my working hours and pay structure?
• Do I know how termination works?
• Have I kept copies of all documents?

If the answer to any of these is “no,” pause and clarify before moving forward.

Final Thoughts

The Labor Code of Armenia is not something you need to memorize. In fact, you can’t. But it is something you need to respect and understand at a basic level. For repats, the biggest risk is not the law itself, but entering employment relationships without clarity.

Knowledge gives you confidence. Confidence helps you navigate work conversations calmly and professionally. And that, more than anything, helps you build a stable and successful working life in Armenia.