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Work flexibly at trade fairs and events — free from social security contributions for up to 70 days a year.
Short-term employment is the ideal working arrangement for trade fair jobs, hostess jobs, and promoter jobs. Students, pupils, retirees, and anyone working alongside a primary job can work up to 70 working days or three months per calendar year without paying social security contributions — regardless of earnings.
At eventas, our hostesses, promoters, and service staff work across Germany on this basis — at trade fairs such as bauma, IFA, Anuga, and IAA, as well as roadshows, VIP receptions, and promotional campaigns.
Whichever limit is reached first applies. On a five-day week, three months roughly equals 70 working days.
| Feature | Short-Term Employment | Mini-Job |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Maximum 70 days or 3 months per calendar year. | Ongoing, no time limit. |
| Earnings | No cap. Above €603 per month, the employment must be assessed as non-professional. | €603/month (2026), €633 from 2027. |
| Social security | Fully exempt. Only accident insurance is paid by the employer. | Subject to pension contributions. |
| Typical use | Trade fairs, events, seasonal work, promotional campaigns. | Regular part-time side job. |
As of 2026: minor employment threshold — €603. From 1 January 2027 — €633. The threshold is dynamically linked to the statutory minimum wage (2026: €13.90/hr · 2027: €14.60/hr).
Short-term employment comes with clear eligibility requirements. Here you can see at a glance which situations are permitted — and which are not.
Anyone attending a general education school may take on short-term employment — including alongside a mini-job with a different employer.
Permitted. A simultaneous mini-job with another employer is also allowed. Time limits apply.
Short-term employment alongside an apprenticeship is permissible, provided the annual time limits are observed.
No primary employment, no professional classification — short-term employment is straightforwardly permitted.
Short-term employment as a secondary job alongside a social-security-liable primary position is allowed.
A pension does not count as employment under social security law — short-term work is unrestricted.
The law presumes professional intent. Short-term employment triggers social security liability.
Work during parental leave is treated as professionally motivated — social security contributions become due.
As with parental leave, professional intent is assumed when the primary employment relationship is suspended.
During this transition period, professional intent is assumed — short-term employment is not available.
Anyone who has finished their degree and is available on the job market is classified as seeking professional work.
Anyone who has already reached the annual limit cannot take on further short-term employment in that calendar year.
You are personally responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide about your employment status. If it emerges that incorrect details were given and the German Pension Insurance authority subsequently claims unpaid social security contributions, those claims will be made directly against you.
Yes, but all days are counted together. The 70-day limit applies across all short-term employment in a given calendar year.
From day 71, the employment becomes subject to social security contributions — covering health, long-term care, pension, and unemployment insurance.
Yes, retirees can also work on a short-term basis. A pension does not count as employment under social security law.
The 20-hour weekly rule for working students does not apply here. The only requirement is that the work is not carried out professionally — meaning it should not be your primary source of income.
Working hours are documented through the employment contract, timesheets, and pay slips. At eventas, time tracking is handled directly through the app.
Yes, that is possible. A mini-job with one employer and short-term employment with another can run in parallel, as long as the respective limits are observed.
This is due to Germany's progressive tax rate and the fact that your employer does not know your actual annual income. When payroll is calculated on a daily basis, your daily earnings are projected across 360 days — resulting in a fictitiously high annual income figure.
In reality, you may only work a handful of days per year. Your true annual income may even fall below the personal tax allowance (2026: €12,348), in which case you owe no income tax at all.
The solution: file an income tax return at the end of the year. The tax office will recalculate your liability based on your actual earnings — and refund whatever was over-withheld.
When payroll is calculated daily, your employer scales your daily earnings up to a full year. The result is a fictitiously high annual income — and correspondingly high income tax.
In reality, you may only work 12 or 30 days. Your actual earnings are far lower.
If your total annual income falls below the personal tax allowance (2026: €12,348), you owe no income tax — regardless of how much was withheld by your employer.
The tax office recalculates your liability based on your actual annual earnings. Whatever was over-withheld is refunded. For many short-term workers, that means getting back the entire amount withheld.
Gross and net are rarely the same — but how big is the difference for your assignment? With the eventas net pay calculator, you can see in seconds how much of your earnings will land in your account: just enter your hourly rate, assignment length, and tax bracket.
Calculate net payNow that you know whether short-term employment is an option for you, it is important to understand how primary and secondary employers are distinguished for payroll purposes.
Choose the bracket that matches your personal situation:
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