Kosovo

Employer of Record in Kosovo

Skuad’s Kosovo EOR (Employer of Record) solution helps your business expand in Kosovo without the requirement of an entity setup. Our tech-enriched, integrated, and automated global HR platform enables you to speed up the onboarding of your remote team and manage their payroll, benefits, etc. compliantly. With the help of our international network, we can help you streamline the process of global expansion.

Expanding your business in Kosovo and building an efficient team of workers can be trouble-free through an effective EOR solution. Know more about Skuad’s HR solutions for your requirements in Kosovo.

Kosovo at a Glance

Population: 1,761,985

Currency: Euro

Capital city: Pristina

Languages spoken: Albanian and Serbian

GDP: USD 9.41billion

Learn more about expanding your business into Kosovo from our team of experts.

Employment in Kosovo

What You Must Know Before Employing In Kosovo

Kosovo Employment laws apply to both foreign nationals and their citizens. The main sources of employment law in the Republic of Kosovo are the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo; Law on Labour No. 03/L-212; Law on Safety and Health at Work No. 04/L-161; Law on Foreigners No. 04/L-219; Law on the Protection of Breastfeeding No. 05/L-023; Law No. 04/L-011 for Organizing Trade Unions in Kosovo; and Law No. 03/L –200 On Strikes.

The employment of civil servants is governed by separate laws and regulations. Other sources of employment law include several administrative instructions.

Contractors vs. Full-time Employees

Full-time employees are on the company's payroll and have to spend their working hours dedicated to the company's projects. They are expected to follow the company’s guidelines and be loyal to the company. In return, the company pays fixed income and other benefits to the employees and manages their day-to-day activities as well. The company withholds the appropriate taxes (e.g., federal income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax). The benefits paid by the company can include mandatory employment benefits, like health insurance, and other desirable benefits, like flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health reimbursement accounts (HRAs), health savings accounts (HSAs), paid vacation, commuter benefits, and stock options.

Contractors, on the other hand, are independent workers who usually work on a freelance or contract basis, meaning they only work when required and have other clients. They enjoy autonomy and flexibility but do not receive any benefits. The company would not withhold or pay any taxes. A contractor is responsible for paying their taxes, including federal income tax and self-employment tax. Additionally, they must pay to avail of any benefit including health insurance.

Although there are many advantages to both options, identifying the better option for your company depends on the individual's needs.

If you have a temporary project in hand, then hiring an independent contractor is the right option for you. On the other hand, if you intend to enter into a specific market and need to hire people with special skill sets, who will support you for the long term, then you should go for full-time employees.

Many businesses must decide whether to hire a full-time employee or work as an independent contractor.

You need to consider certain factors before making the right decision. The questions given below will help you determine how to classify the worker.

• When, where, and how is the work done?
• Is the worker required to go through lengthy onboard training?
• Is the worker required to do full-time, ongoing/continual work? Or is the worker required to do temporary work based on projects that have specific requirements?
• Does the worker need to be paid hourly, weekly, or monthly? Or does the worker need to be paid once an entire project is over?
• Is the company willing to pay for travel?

Remember that it is very important to classify the worker rightly, as misclassifying a worker can result in back taxes, fines, penalties, and legal disputes.

To help you make the right decision, global employment solutions companies act as the employer of record to take care of legal and financial issues regarding hiring, paying, and managing remote teams for you. Call us if you want to know more about Skuad’s employer of record Kosovo Service.

Hiring in Kosovo

The hiring companies in Kosovo can either opt for advertisements in local newspapers or advertise on more general career sites such as LinkedIn, Monster, Elevated Career, Indeed, etc. However, these popular job search platforms have many disadvantages, like a high volume of responses, logistical problems, technology issues, poor websites, too impersonal, etc. Another way to hire employees in Kosovo is to join hands with a local expert. It will save you the delay and provide cost-effective solutions that comply with the laws of the country. To experience a positive hiring process, connect with Skuad experts who will take you through each step of the hiring process in Kosovo.

Probation & Termination

Standard Probation Period Kosovo

While typically the standard probation period in Kosovo lasts between 3-6 months; under their labor laws, there is no limit. Once the probation period is over, the employee becomes eligible for benefits and entitlements. During the probationary period in Kosovo, employers and employees can discontinue the employment relationship with a two-day prior notification.

Termination of Employment, Kosovo

Whoever decides to terminate the employment contract between the two parties must give notice to the other party in writing. The notice period is determined according to what was agreed between the two parties in their employment contract.

In most circumstances, termination of a contract by an employer takes place only when it is justified for economic, technical, or organizational reasons, or if the employee is no longer competent to perform the work or can not be transferred to another department, or can not be retained for a different job. The termination must be in writing and state the reason the employee is being terminated.

An employer or an employee may terminate a contract with no prior notice if either of the two parties seriously breaches a contractual obligation.

Learn all about the standard probation period, Kosovo, and termination of employment, in Kosovo, from Skuad experts today.

EOR Solution in Kosovo

Skuad has a client-centric approach and delivers end-to-end EOR solutions to its diverse clients. The integration of different economies has increased the opportunities to expand your business globally. An EOR service organization plays a vital role in helping you expand your business operations. Skuad is an established EOR company known for the systemic administration of HR. Skuad’s broad spectrum of services includes the following.

• Talent Discovery: Skuad not only manages your employees in Kosovo but also finds the right talent for your organization.
• Human Resource Administration: Skuad assumes full responsibility for managing remote workers and employees in Kosovo and takes care of their onboarding, payroll, and management.
• Compliance: Skuad ensures that your organization complies with the labor legislation and tax laws of Kosovo.
• Establishment of an Entity: Skuad assists at each step of setting up a new entity in Kosovo.

Talk to our experts about employers of record companies in Kosovo and find out how Skuad’s Employer of Record EOR solutions might be just what you are looking for while expanding in Slovakia.

Types of Visas in Kosovo

If you are planning to relocate employees to Kosovo or hire foreign nationals, you will have to ensure that they all have the required permits and visas to live and work there.

Kosovo Work Visa

The government of Kosovo has exempted several countries, including the United States from visas. Foreign nationals from these countries are not required to obtain a visa to enter Kosovo and can stay for up to 90 days or 180 days.

Whether your employees are from a visa-exempt country or not, they will be required to acquire work permits as well as a temporary residence permit to live in and work in Kosovo.

Kosovo work permits for foreigners can be secured by presenting the documents needed for the processing of work visas to the consulate. People who are eager to work in Kosovo can also apply for Kosovo work permits without a job offer, but they must apply for the work permit themselves and not on behalf of a company. They will require the following documents.

• Visa application form
• Recent passport photograph
• Passport with a validity of at least 6 months
• A copy of the applicant’s passport’s main page

Kosovo Work Visa Requirements

The general requirements to get a visa for entrance to Kosovo are as follows:

• A duly completed and signed application form
• A passport that is valid for at least six months after the applicant’s planned date of arrival in Kosovo
• A passport photo that was taken within the last month
• Evidence that the applicant has travel medical insurance coverage for their time in Kosovo
• Proof that the applicant has sufficient financial means to support themselves in Kosovo
• Evidence that the applicant has accommodations in Kosovo
• Proof of payment of the visa fee

Diplomatic officials may even require additional documents depending on a case-by-case basis. To acquire a temporary residence permit, foreign nationals will be required to provide evidence of insurance and accommodations in Kosovo. They will also be asked to put forward an official police background check from their country of residence.

Know more about the process of visas in Kosovo, Talk to Skuad experts today!

Work Permit Kosovo

The following are the requirements to obtain a Kosovo work permit:

• A temporary residence permit or valid visa
• Details regarding the applicant’s professional position and qualifications
• An employment contract with a business in Kosovo
• A certificate of business registration for the employer

If you are already conducting a business successfully, you may neither have the time nor the resources to control and manage all the risks and follow all the regulations associated with expansion internationally. Let our team of Skuad experts handle it for you — talk to us today to learn more about how our solution can help you harness top talent in Kosovo and beyond.

Payroll & Taxes In Kosovo

As a foreign company, you must adhere to the local laws and taxation policies like income tax, business tax, withholding tax, employee compensation insurance, social security costs, etc. With a resourceful payroll outsourcing company, the process might just get simple. To know more about payroll outsourcing in Kosovo, connect with Skuad experts today.

Kosovo payroll tax rates

The standard corporate tax rate in the state is 10%. Other taxes vary based on the industry of the employee, and taxpayers making up to EUR 50,000 can choose to pay tax on a gross income basis. Kosovo uses a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system for personal income taxes, so you are responsible for withholding taxes from employees’ wages.

Kosovo employer payroll taxes

Progressive tax rates ranging from 0 – 10% are applied to gross income in the following manner: 0% for salaries up to EUR 960 / year; 4% for salaries from EUR 961 to 3,000 / year; 8% for salaries from EUR 3,001 to 5,400 / year; 10% for salaries over EUR 5,400 / year.

Talk to us today and know more about payroll and taxes in Kosovo!

Incorporation: How to Set Up A Subsidiary In Kosovo?

While incorporating a holding company in Kosovo, one of the most important factors to consider is the location of your subsidiary. Different regions or cities within the state have their laws, charges, availability, etc. Selecting incorporation-friendly destinations can make the process simple and less time-consuming.

Secondly, one must consider the type of entity best suited for your business needs and objectives. For example, incorporating as a limited liability company (LLC) generally gives businesses plenty of freedom to work in Kosovo. On the other hand, setting up a branch in the country will restrict your activities. Kosovo will permit you to set up your subsidiary as an LLC, public limited company, branch, or representative office.

Most companies choose to incorporate as an LLC because it is advantageous for their parent company and allows them to be flexible in operating in the country.

Although it may appear to be a lengthy and time-consuming process, the Kosovo subsidiary setup process will allow you to begin legally working in the country without having to worry about incurring any fines from the subsidiary.

There are immense business opportunities in Kosovo. Many businesses are attracted to expanding into Kosovo because of the growing economy of the country. However, it is important to know the various laws for incorporation.

Know more about setting up a subsidiary in Kosovo with Skuad’s potent EOR solution.

Professional Employer Organization (PEO)

A Professional Employer organization in Kosovo is an organization that manages all comprehensive HR services such as payroll management, employment benefits, regulatory compliance, tax filing, onboarding, training and development, and other services. A PEO is an outsourced HR department that provides access to expert services that are affordable as well. A PEO firm acts as a co-employer, while an EOR firm acts as a legal employer.

Businesses willing to collaborate with a PEO firm will be required to set up a legal entity separately. However, if you join forces with an EOR team, you can legally begin working and hiring in the country because it is already a legal employer.

A PEO can take charge of all the liabilities and responsibilities of the company and control and manage all HR-related matters. An EOR company permits organizations to set up legal subsidiaries in different countries and make their presence felt in the global market.

Skuad’s unified and automated platform acts as an EOR. Skuad is the global HR platform that can make your expansion easy. Its unified employment platform will manage everything from onboarding employees for your team to providing all statutory benefits so that you can focus your time and energy on the growth of the company. With the help of our international network, we can help you streamline the global expansion process. Reach out to us today and enhance your business prospects with Skuad’s advanced EOR solutions.

Conclusion: What Gives Skuad’s Kosovo Solutions an Edge?

Businesses looking to expand their workforce in promising regions may find Kosovo an attractive destination especially if you have an employer of record like Skuad as a partner. Its one-of-a-kind EOR solution lets you streamline and expedite your global expansion process. Book a demo with Skuad experts to know more.

FAQs

1) What is an employer of record in Kosovo?

An Employer of Record service provider in Kosovo legally hires employees for a client business. An EOR, like Skuad, manages various employment tasks such as payroll processing, tax compliance, benefits administration, and adherence to local labor laws. This lets companies hire and manage employees in Kosovo without setting up a local legal entity.

2) What are the employment laws in Kosovo?

Employment laws in Kosovo are governed by the Labor Law No. 03/L-212. The typical workweek is 40 hours across five days. Employees are entitled to paid annual, sick & maternity leave. The law states that employment can be terminated with notice, and severance pay is required under certain conditions. Overtime work is regulated, with employees entitled to extra pay for hours worked beyond the workweek. 

3) Is an employer of record the same as a PEO?

An EOR, like Skuad, is the legal employer who handles all employment tasks and compliance for a client’s employees. A PEO enters into a co-employment arrangement where both the PEO and the client company share employer responsibilities. The PEO typically handles HR, payroll, and compliance functions, while the client company retains control over the day-to-day work and workforce management.

4) What is the severance pay in Kosovo?

The severance pay in Kosovo is mandated by Labor Law and is required under certain conditions, such as termination due to redundancy. Generally, employees are entitled to one month's salary for each year of service, up to a maximum of six months' salary. The exact terms can vary based on the employment contract and the reason for termination. Click here to calculate cost of employment in Kosovo. 

5) What is the legal age to work in Kosovo?

The legal age to work in Kosovo is 15 years old. However, there are restrictions on the type and conditions of work for individuals under 18. Young workers between the ages of 15 and 18 are prohibited from performing hazardous work and are subject to limitations on working hours to ensure their safety, health, and education are not compromised.