It is known that many employers decide to employ students through a student employment contract. The employer is thus at an advantage because there is no expenditure towards the state and the procedures for issuing a student contract are neither complicated nor time-consuming. Additionally, students are an ideal workforce for casual jobs for which employers often do not have the need, will, or time to look for a permanent employee. A simpler way is to hire a student. In the same way, students are given the opportunity to earn money, but also to acquire work habits and test their own knowledge and capabilities.
Work through a student employment contract is prescribed by the Act on Performing Student works, and such work is most often practiced during the season. Below, Confida presents an overview of the most important information for students and employers about the rules for working through a student employment contract.
Who can work through a student employment contract?
A student who attends undergraduate university studies, integrated undergraduate and graduate university studies, graduate university studies, short professional studies, undergraduate professional studies, and specialist graduate professional studies at universities in the Republic of Croatia can work through a student employment contract.
A person can be a citizen of the Republic of Croatia or a citizen of the European Union with a residence in the Republic of Croatia who is studying at a university outside the Republic of Croatia or an exchange student while studying in the Republic of Croatia, and who does not have an established employment relationship and/or does not perform an independent trade activity, craft and/or agriculture and forestry.
Likewise, persons who are in the process of enrolling in a course of study or who have completed their studies at a university in the Republic of Croatia have the right to work. Such persons have the right to work for 3 months from the end of the school year in which the secondary school education was completed, i.e., the longest until the end of the academic year in which the person completed the studies or until the expiration of three months from the end of the studies.
Who can order and conclude a contract for the performance of student work?
Any legal or natural person who is registered for the performance of activities, which includes crafts and dependent activities, can order and conclude a contract on the performance of student work with a student.
Content of the contract on performing student work
The contract on performing student work must contain the following:
- the number of the resolution or decisions by which the permit/approval for mediation was issued,
- name, surname, and personal identification number of the contractor,
- student ID number (when applicable),
- full name, registered office, and OIB of the client and intermediary,
- data on the type of work and place of work performance,
- data on the start and expected duration of the job,
- data on the net price of an hour of work or the amount of work,
- data on contributions according to special regulations,
- information on the increase in compensation and the amount of the compensation.
Minimum student hourly rate
The minimum student hourly rate, i.e., the net fee for performing student work, amounts to HRK 29.30. It is calculated by dividing the amount of the minimum gross salary in the Republic of Croatia, which is HRK 4,687.50, by 160.
The student has the right to travel expenses compensation as well as compensation for a hot meal if such compensation is agreed upon. Also, the student has the right to a 50% increase in the hourly rate on public holidays, for working at night and overtime, and working on Sundays.
Deadline for payment of student work
The person who orders the student’s work must pay the same to the intermediary for the student’s account no later than 15 days after the end of the work. The intermediary is obliged to pay the funds to the student within three days at the latest after the client’s payment.
If the client decides not to pay the student fee, then the mediator is obliged and has the right to represent the student in claiming the fee and has the right to take all legal actions to make the payment. If the client does not pay the compensation to the student within the deadline, then the mediator is responsible for these obligations and is obliged to pay the compensation to the student from his funds.
