Unpaid wages: what to do step by step

Unpaid wages are a situation where an employee does not receive salary on time or does not receive the full amount. In practice the most important step is to quickly organize documents and determine the exact shortfall.

Update: 5 March 2026

In brief:

• Collect documents confirming the wage amount and the period of arrears.
• It is worth starting with a payment demand and an attempt to clarify the issue.
• If that does not work, the next step is a labour court claim.

What unpaid wages are

Unpaid wages mean an unpaid part or all of the salary due for work. This may include base pay, bonuses, allowances or other components that should be paid under the contract and regulations.

Deadlines and limitation period

Wage claims generally become time‑barred after 3 years. The limitation period runs separately for each unpaid salary, so acting sooner improves your chances of recovery.

First steps and documents

At the start, gather and organize:

• employment contract and annexes,
• payslips or salary statements,
• time records,
• transfer confirmations,
• correspondence with the employer.

The more complete the documentation, the easier it is to prove the arrears and their amount.

Payment demand and talks with the employer

In practice it is good to start with a written payment demand. It organizes the matter and shows you attempted to resolve the conflict amicably. The demand should state the amount, the period and the expected payment deadline.

Complaint to the Labour Inspectorate as support

If the employer does not respond, you can consider filing a complaint with the State Labour Inspectorate. The Inspectorate can carry out an inspection and order payment of arrears, but it does not replace the court.

When to go to the labour court

If the employer does not respond or still does not pay, the next step is a claim to the labour court. The detailed procedure is described in the guide on a claim for unpaid wages.

Unpaid wages and employer bankruptcy or liquidation

When a company is in bankruptcy or liquidation, the matter usually goes to the trustee or follows insolvency procedures. In such a situation, timely filing of claims and keeping documents proving the debt are crucial. In practice some benefits may be covered by the Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund, but only if statutory conditions are met.

Wages after an employee’s death

Wages owed to a deceased employee are subject to special payout rules. In practice it is necessary to document the entitlement and submit the appropriate requests to the employer or trustee.

For broader context see the guide on labour court claims and the basics of the employment contract.

Note: this text is for information only and does not constitute legal advice.