Ivory Coast (Cote d’ivoire) PEO Services
Hire & Pay Employees in the Ivory Coast
Hire in Ivory Coast
Country Overview
Employment Contracts
Working Hours
Employee Leave
Employee Benefits
Ivory Coast PEO & Employer of Record Services
Global PEO Services (GPS) helps companies hire employees in Ivory Coast without establishing a legal entity. All human resources, benefits, payroll, and tax needs for the employees are managed by the Global PEO, while the new hires and headquarter teams focus on your business goals.
When hiring employees in Ivory Coast, establishing a subsidiary or branch office is not always the best route, as it’s often a lengthy and expensive process. Hiring via a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), or Employer of Record (EOR), is a faster and often more effective option – especially when starting up in a new country.
Global PEO Services hires the employees on your behalf, legally contracting them through our subsidiary in accordance with Ivory Coast labor laws. As a result, the burden of compliance is on us and the employees can begin work for your company in a matter of days. PEOs/EORs provide you with a streamlined option for hiring employees, testing markets, and responding to growing business needs in Ivory Coast. With Global PEO Services, you get control without taking on legal entity liabilities, contractor risks, or sacrificing on talent or speed to market.
Ivory Coast - Country Overview
The economy of Côte d’Ivoire or Ivory Coast primarily relies on agriculture and the related activities that employ nearly 68% of the population. The country is also the largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans in the world. It also produces and exports a significant quantity of coffee, palm oil, and cashew nuts. Over the years, the government has put in efforts to diversify the economy, and it reflects on the spike of oil and gas production along with substantial crude oil exports. The growth of Gross Domestic Product or GDP has been significant, which is driven by increased infrastructure investments on roads, bridges and building construction all over the country.
Currency
Communauté financière d’Afrique (Financial Community of Africa (CFA) franc (XOF)
Principal Language
French (official); five other languages — Diula (Dioula), Baule (Baoulé), Dan, Anyin and Senari.
Government
Presidential Representative Democratic Republic
Capital City
Yamoussoukro
Major Cities
Bouaké, Daloa, Gagnoa, Korhogo, Man, San Pedro
Employment Contracts in the Ivory Coast
In Côte d’Ivoire, it is mandatory to have the fixed-term contracts in writing which may be renewed for up to 2 years. It is also a legal requirement to draft employment contracts in the local language. A contract must contain the terms related to employees’ compensation, benefits, and termination. Particularly, any compensation amount should be specified in West African CFA francs rather than a foreign currency.
Working Hours in the Ivory Coast
The usual work schedule in Côte d’Ivoire comprises 5-day work weeks with 8 hours per day.
Overtime
As specified by the law, employers are required to pay overtime to employees for additional hours and also provide at least one 24-hour rest period every week. The law does not prohibit compulsory overtime.
Employee Leave in the Ivory Coast
Holidays
The following 15 public holidays are observed in Côte d’Ivoire:
- Jan 1: New Year’s Day
- July 4: Easter Monday
- May 1: Labor Day
- May 25: Ascension Day
- June 5: Whit Monday
- June 23: Day after Laylat al-Qadr
- June 25: Korité
- June 26: Korité Holiday
- Aug 7: Independence Day
- Aug 15: Assumption Day
- Sep 1: Tabaski
- Nov 1: All Saints’ Day
- Nov 15: National Peace Day
- Dec 1: The Day after the Prophet’s Birthday
- Dec 25: Christmas Day
Annual Leave
After completing one year of employment, employees are usually entitled to 26 days of paid annual leave. This goes up to 27 days after completing 5 years of service.
Maternity Leave
Women employees are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave.
Sick Leave
Generally, employees are entitled to a minimum of 5 days’ paid sick leave in a year.
Paternity Leave
Fathers of a newborn child are given time off from work as paternity leave.
The working father of a child is entitled to 5 days’ leave without pay at the time of the childbirth, provided that the leave:
1) May not be taken before the mother’s confinement for maternity leave, and
2) Shall be taken within the first month post-childbirth, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Special Leave
Paid special leave of up to 10 days is allowed to employees for family events.
Employee Benefits in the Ivory Coast
Old-Age Benefits
Old-age Pension: The old-age pension is 1.33% of an insured’s average income during the 10 best years multiplied by the total years of contributions.
The minimum pension is 50% of the legal monthly minimum wage, which is 36,607 CFA francs. The maximum pension benefit is 50% of the insured’s average income during the 15 best years.
Early Pension: In case an employee retires before the normal retirement age, the pension is reduced by 5% for each year.
The minimum early pension is 50% of the legal monthly minimum wage, which is 36,607 CFA francs.
Child’s Supplement (Old-age Pension): Children younger than 21 years are paid 10% of the insured’s pension, which may go up to 30%.
Old-age Allowance: A lump sum amount is paid to employees based on their average income and the number of years of coverage.
Old-age Reimbursement: A lump sum is paid to employees, which is 3.2% of the covered income during the entire coverage period.
Permanent Disability Benefits
Disability Pension: The pension is 1.33% of the insured’s average income during the 15 best years multiplied by the total years of contributions before January 1, 2000, plus 1.70% of average income for each year of coverage after January 1, 2000.
Child’s Supplement (Disability Pension): 10% of an insured’s pension is paid for each child who is younger than 21 years. The payment may go up to 30%. The pension is paid monthly.
Survivor Benefits
Survivor Pension: A widow(er) is entitled to receive 50% of the old-age or disability pension that the deceased received. In case of more than one survivor, the pension is divided equally.
Early Pension: The pension is reduced by 5% for each year if an early pension is taken before the age of 55. The pension is paid monthly.
Full Orphan’s Pension: Eligible orphans receive 20% of the old-age or disability pension the deceased received or was entitled to receive. All full orphans’ benefits combined must not be more than 100% of the deceased’s pension. The pension is paid monthly.
Work Injury
Coverage
Work injury coverage is provided to employed persons, seamen, certain members of cooperatives, apprentices, and students in technical colleges.
Self-employed persons can take voluntary coverage for all permanent work injury benefits.
Source of Funds
Insured person: None
Employer: 2% to 5% of covered payroll, according to the assessed degree of risk.
An employee’s maximum monthly income used to calculate contributions is 70,000 CFA francs.
Employers with 20 or more employees pay monthly contributions, and employers with 1 to 19 employees make quarterly contributions.
Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation has been designed to pay the expenses of employees who got injured or sick while performing job-related duties. Employees can recover lost wages, medical expenses, disability payments, and costs associated with rehabilitation and retraining. The system is administered by the state and financed by mandatory employer contributions.
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