Ending your contract: your entitlements and final exit

What you are owed when work ends, the order to do things in before travelling, and the last-minute mistakes that cost people their rights.

The end of a contract is where many people lose entitlements they had earned, because they rushed to travel or signed papers unread. Getting the last few weeks in order protects what you worked years for.

Start at least a month ahead

Do not leave this to the final week. A month before your contract ends, ask management directly: when does the contract formally end, when are final dues paid, and who handles the exit procedure?

What you are owed

Any unpaid days or months of salary.
End-of-service benefit based on your service and wage.
Payment for accrued unused leave.
A return flight if your contract provides one.
Any other allowances the contract names.

Work these out yourself before the meeting. Someone who walks in knowing their approximate figure is not caught out by a lower one with no explanation.

Papers to take with you

An experience certificate naming your trade and length of service.
Proof of payment and the final settlement statement.
A copy of your contract and payslips.
Any medical reports relating to a workplace injury.

The experience certificate in particular is the one people skip, then need a year later and cannot obtain. Ask for it before you travel.

Costly mistakes

Signing a final release before actually receiving the money. Sign after payment, not before.
Signing a paper in a language you cannot read because "the process is urgent".
Accepting less in cash with no receipt in exchange for a quick finish.
Travelling before the exit procedure is formally complete.
Closing your bank account before the last transfer lands, or leaving it unattended.

The final exit

Leaving the country when employment ends is a formal procedure handled by the employer. Make sure it is complete and your status is clean when you travel. Leaving with an incomplete status can carry consequences that block a later return for work — something many people discover too late, when they want a new contract.

If the employer refuses

If they withhold your dues or will not complete the exit, that is a matter for a labour complaint. Do not travel leaving your entitlement behind on the assumption you can pursue it from abroad — pursuing it while still in the country is far easier. File before you book your ticket.

Before you say goodbye

Take your colleagues’ and supervisors’ numbers. The labour market is small, and a reference from a former supervisor can open a better contract a year later. Finish cleanly and your name stays clean.

Procedures differ between the two countries and change; check the current detail with the authority before fixing your travel date.

Rules and fees change and differ by country and employer. Always check with the official authorities before paying or signing anything.