Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes in Hungary

Unfair dismissal in Hungary, jogellenes felmondás, is an unlawful termination of employment under the Labour Code, and it can be challenged in court only within a short, strict deadline. English-speaking employment lawyers advise employees and employers on dismissals, settlements and other employment disputes.
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About Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes in Hungary

Unfair dismissal in Hungary — also searched as wrongful dismissal, employment law in Hungary or an employment lawyer in Hungary — covers terminations that break the rules and other disputes between an employee and an employer. The Hungarian terms are jogellenes felmondás or jogellenes munkaviszony-megszüntetés (unlawful termination); a court case is a munkaügyi per, and the rules are in the Labour Code, the Munka törvénykönyve (Mt.). Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Employment Law: Dismissals & Disputes”.

Who it concerns

Foreign employees of Hungarian companies and of Hungarian subsidiaries of international groups, workers whose residence permit is linked to their job, and foreign-owned employers planning a dismissal or a restructuring in Hungary.

How employment ends in Hungary

  • Termination by notice (felmondás): an employer ending an open-ended contract gives a real and clear reason linked to the employee's conduct, ability or the employer's operations.
  • Termination with immediate effect (azonnali hatályú felmondás): reserved for serious breaches.
  • Mutual agreement (közös megegyezés): no reason is needed, which is why its terms deserve a careful reading before signing.
  • The notice period (felmondási idő) and severance pay (végkielégítés) depend on the length of service and on how the employment ended.

When the dismissal was unlawful

A claim goes to court within a short, strict deadline counted from the day the termination was communicated, not from the last working day; refusing to accept the letter does not stop it, and talks between the parties do not extend it. If the court finds the termination unlawful, the usual result is money, such as lost earnings and compensation for the harm caused. Getting the job back is possible only in particular situations, for example discrimination or the dismissal of a specially protected employee, and sérelemdíj can be claimed where personal rights were violated.

What a lawyer does

The lawyer reads the termination letter and the contract, works out the claims, negotiates a settlement, files the claim and represents the client in court; for employers, the lawyer prepares the reasons and the paperwork so that a dismissal holds. Settlement agreements go through contract review, unpaid wages can be pursued through debt collection, and post-employment secrecy is covered under non-disclosure agreements. More topics are listed under employment and labour law in Hungary.

Questions and answers

How long is there to challenge a dismissal in Hungary?

Not long. The deadline is short and strict, and missing it usually ends the claim, so the date the letter was handed over is the first thing a lawyer checks.

Is severance pay always due?

No. It depends on the length of service and on the way the employment ended; a dismissal for the employee's conduct, for example, normally carries none.

What about a residence permit tied to the job?

Losing the job can affect it. The immigration rules have changed more than once in recent years; a lawyer confirms the current ones.

Can the case be handled in English?

The court works in Hungarian. The lawyer works with the client in English and arranges translations of the documents that matter.

1 lawyer who provides Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes in Hungary

Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.

  • Peter, lawyer in Budapest

    Peter

    Lawyer · Budapest, Hungary

    • 199 cases handled · 4 in this service
    • 10+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, German, Hungarian
    • Law, University of Pécs
    • 4.94(17 reviews)
    Contact Peter
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What our clients say about our service in Hungary

  • It was a good experience. The lawyer was very responsive and helpful in ending a contract relationship. We communicated by email and phone, all in English, and he answered all our questions very quickly. He reviewed our contracts and advised us on the impact and on possible improvements. All in all it was very positive, and we can certainly recommend his service.
    — Nicola
    27 Oct 2025
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes
  • I was facing an involuntary departure from a job of 23 years, and the lawyer's calm, steady guidance was invaluable. She explained the workings of the law, my entitlements and the steps I could expect, then helped me with each of them over several months. She was readily available in person or by phone, and was clear and tactful both with me and when we wrote jointly to my ex-employer. She played a crucial part in reviewing and editing the agreement in its English and Spanish versions, and the company accepted everything she insisted upon. Her unbending professionalism, clarity and patience with my questions were just what was needed to bring an unexpected and difficult situation to a satisfying conclusion. I could not be happier to have found her.
    — Frank
    05 Mar 2025
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes
  • When my family needed an English-speaking lawyer in Spain, he was a godsend. He took charge straight away, and his professionalism, together with his command of Spanish law, got me through a complicated situation. He is the person to go to if you must work your way through the hard-to-reach rights and obligations of the Spanish legal code. He is also compassionate and understanding, and he was always available and ready to help. I recommend him without any hesitation to anyone who needs effective legal representation.
    — Annette
    13 Sep 2024
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes
  • The team contacted me promptly and put me in touch with a fitting lawyer straight away, which I really appreciate as my issue was pressing. The lawyer was very helpful too: a preliminary opinion arrived before the call we had agreed on, and more detail followed during the call. I will be sure to get in touch again whenever a lawyer is needed.
    — Paulo
    15 Mar 2024
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes
  • The lawyer replied very quickly, gave an excellent analysis of the legal matter and proposed changes to the contract clauses that truly reflected my interests. Everything was explained clearly and simply, and I was very satisfied with the outcome.
    — Dr.
    20 Mar 2023
  • If you too are looking for English-speaking lawyers who are good, I doubt you will find a team as professional and diligent. Both lawyers were calm and informative, reassured me and made me feel confident about my employment case. In court they appeared much more professional than the lawyer on the other side, and the result for us was favourable. For anyone who does not speak Spanish and wants good advice, these are the lawyers to turn to. I highly recommend them, lovely people!
    — Sammi
    03 Mar 2023
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes
  • Fast reply, and a polite lawyer who explained things well and knows the facts. I got just the information I needed, and his English was perfect.
    — Elin
    17 Aug 2022
  • The lawyer was helpful and caring from the very start. My case was with the British Consulate in Malaga and she did not flinch, even though dealing with a government organisation is so difficult, if not impossible. She also supported me emotionally because of the way I was being treated, and I was not in a state to make any decision for myself. She gave me the confidence to face the challenge ahead, explained everything in perfect English, and we finished the case with the compensation and the result that I wanted. The help I received was excellent. I would not hesitate to recommend her service to anyone, and I am truly grateful for her help and support.
    — Jean
    31 Jul 2022
  • Very helpful advice, with a clear explanation of the right course of action.
    — Stephen
    27 Jun 2022
  • I valued how well she explained things and the suitable solutions she offered.
    — Sayuri
    08 Oct 2021
  • I highly recommend this lawyer: great and easy to work with, highly efficient and helpful, and her English is perfect. I will certainly use her again if I ever need to.
    — Kate
    21 Jun 2021
    Unfair Dismissal & Employment Disputes, Cyprus
  • The lawyer is excellent. She was attentive and made sure I got the best possible outcome, and I am very satisfied with it.
    — Mark
    27 Jan 2021