Remote Work in Belarus

In recent years, remote work has become an increasingly relevant topic worldwide, and Belarus is no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a catalyst for changing traditional approaches to work, forcing many companies to rethink their work models and integrate flexible formats. In the context of a rapidly changing economy and technological innovations, remote work in Belarus opens up new opportunities for employers and employees. From increasing mobility and job satisfaction to expanding access to the international labor market, the benefits of this format cannot be overemphasized. In this article, we will look at the current state of remote work in Belarus and its advantages and challenges.

What are the benefits of remote work for your employer?

Remote work brings many benefits for employers, including the following:

1. Lower costs
Remote work reduces the cost of office space, utilities, and equipment. This is especially true for small and medium-sized enterprises, which can save significant money.
2. Broad access to talent
The ability to hire employees from different regions and countries significantly increases the choice of qualified specialists. This allows you to find the best specialists, regardless of their location.
3. Increase productivity
Many studies show that remote workers can be more productive thanks to flexible schedules, a comfortable environment, and the ability to optimize their working hours.
4. Increase employee satisfaction
Remote work gives employees greater freedom and comfort, contributing to less stress and higher levels of job satisfaction. Satisfied employees tend to be more motivated and loyal to the company.
5. Flexibility and adaptability
Remote work allows employers to respond more quickly to changes in the business environment by realigning teams and resources to meet current needs.
6. Reduced staff turnover
Workflow flexibility often leads to better work-life balance for employees, which can reduce staff turnover and help retain talent.
7. Resilience to crises
Companies that have already adopted remote work formats can more easily overcome challenges, such as economic crises or pandemics because their employees can continue to perform their duties from anywhere in the world.
8. Environmental sustainability
Reducing the need for office travel helps reduce the company’s carbon footprint, which is essential in the context of increasing environmental responsibility.
Thus, remote work offers many benefits for employers, helping to improve both business performance and the overall team climate.

What are the benefits of remote work for employees?

Advantages of remote work for employees:

1. More flexible schedule
Remote work allows employees to plan their time more freely, improving their work-life balance.
2. Save time
Reducing travel time to and from the office saves time and resources and reduces stress.
3. Convenience
Employees can create a comfortable working environment at home by choosing the appropriate space and environment.
4. Lower costs
Remote employees can save on transportation costs, lunch, and business clothing.
5. Expand your capabilities
Remote work opens up access to vacancies in different regions and countries without limiting the choice to local companies only.
6. Independence
Remote work can develop self-management skills and increase your sense of responsibility and independence.
7. Less office distractions
Working from home helps minimize distractions that can occur in an office environment.
8. Better productivity
Many employees report working more productively in a comfortable environment without constant interruptions.

When did remote work become possible in Belarus?

In January 2020, Belarus consolidated the ability to work remotely by making appropriate amendments to the Labor Code. In particular, the Labor Code has a new chapter that regulates remote work. According to the latest regulations, remote work involves performing official duties by an employee outside the employer’s office using information and communication technologies, such as email, instant messengers, and chats.

Types of remote work

Starting from 2024, remote work can take different forms. It can be:

• permanent, when an employee always works remotely without visiting the office.
• temporary, when an employee is temporarily transferred to a remote job.
• Combined, the employee periodically works remotely and sometimes stays in the office. Days when an employee should be in the office and at a markdown are specified in the company’s internal documents, for example, in the Regulations on Remote Work.

Features of remote work

The main feature of remote work is that its results have no material expression. For example, hairdressers and surgeons cannot conduct their professional activities remotely. As a rule, remote workers are specialists whose activities do not require a permanent presence at a particular workplace. These employees include programmers, editors, support staff, consultants, and other professionals.

Ability to relocate employees to another state

Certain rights, obligations, and guarantees exist in Belarus for employees and employers located on the country’s territory. Currently, employees can exercise their rights and enjoy their protection only if they perform their duties on the country’s territory. This does not apply to business trips to other countries and cases when the employment contract is issued in Belarus. 
It may be that the company accepts an employee to work in Belarus (enters into an employment contract on the country’s territory), and the employee will be located and work in another country where the employer does not have a branch. In such a situation, difficulties may arise, for example, when registering temporary disability (sick leave) and other insurance cases related to social insurance, labor protection issues, and the need for an employee to personally sign dismissal documents if the company does not provide for the possibility of exchanging electronic documents.
In addition, if an employee stays abroad for more than six months, he may lose the status of a tax resident of Belarus, which will raise questions about paying taxes in the country.

Ability to hire foreign remote employees

Theoretically, you can hire a foreign employee for remote work. However, according to today’s requirements, the employee must personally sign the employment contract at the place where it is concluded, that is, in Belarus. 

A foreign employee who is not in Belarus and the employer may have issues with social guarantees, for example, with the provision of disability certificates (sick leave) by the employee, with their payment. You will need to decide whether to compensate the employee for the period of temporary disability. The Social Protection Fund of the Population, to which the employer deducts social contributions, accepts only disability certificates of a particular form for payment. 

In general, it is better to conclude a civil contract rather than an employment contract for the provision of services and performance of work with a foreign remote employee.

Under what conditions can I hire a remote employee?

The basic condition for performing work remotely is that the employee must use technical means. The employment contract prescribes that the employee indicate which technical means are used by the employee and whether they belong to the employee or the employer.

An employment contract with remote workers is drawn up in the same way as a contract with ordinary office employees and includes standard provisions regarding the work schedule, rest time, and other conditions. Remote employees are subject to general requirements regarding the length of the working week, working and rest hours and other standards.

Sharing information when working remotely

When working remotely, information is transmitted using information and communication tools, including SMS, instant messaging, email, and other channels. The employment contract usually specifies how exactly employees and employers communicate with each other and how they communicate the results of their work. 
The employer may accept the need to exchange written documents, but this is optional. 
Discipline action orders must be received personally by the employee with a signature within five days of their issuance. Reading such orders remotely is not allowed.

Features of dismissal of remote employees

Remote employees are dismissed in the same order as cleaning employees, and the grounds for dismissal are the same. The order to dismiss the remote employee must be read in person. If the employer provides the possibility of exchanging electronic documents, the employee can get acquainted with the order electronically.