Djibouti Employer of Record & Payroll

Africa Deployments Djibouti offers our clients Employer of Record (EOR) services covering all of the regions within.  We offer full-time employment or fixed terms contracts based on your requirements in Djibouti for locals or expatriates.  ADS will take care of the work permit under our umbrella and will issue local work contracts to your contractors.  We will also advise our client’s on best Human Resource (HR) practices when setting up the employee’s locally in Djibouti.

ADS takes care of the local tax & PAYE remittances to the Revenue Services on a monthly basis ensuring that they are fully compliant with the law.  We will also ensure that their salaries are paid on time monthly and issue them with their pay slips. In addition to our services, we can offer you the employee in Djibouti, Medical, Disability, Life, and Workmen’s Compensation Insurances.

Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a small country along the Gulf of Aden.

Djibouti is home to ±1.13 million people.

Despite its size, Djibouti is rich in beauty and has unique and varied landscapes – including salt lakes, extinct volcanoes, sunken plains, limestone chimneys, basaltic plateaus and majestic canyons.

Hiking, diving and whale-shark spotting in the Gulf of Tadjoura are commonly enjoyed along with many other land and water activities.

Barring Djibouti City, the country is refreshingly devoid of large-scale development, and is all about ecotravel.

Population

1.106 million (2021)

Currency

Djibouti Franc

Capital

Djibouti

Language

Arabic / French

GDP

3.483 billion USD (2021)

Industries

Dairy & Construction

What is the main language spoken in Djibouti:

The 2 official languages in Djibouti are Arabic and French, but being a multilingual country most of the population speak Afar [±25%] and Somali [±45%]. Both of the latter languages belong to the larger Afro-Asiatic family.

English is generally spoken in education, politics and business – e.g. in tourism by hoteliers, taxi drivers and traders.

What type of employment contracts can you offer in Djibouti:

Through our employer of record (EOR) solutions in Djibouti, we can offer the following types of employment contracts:
  • Fixed Term
  • Indefinite term
Contracts and Offer Letters must:
  • Be in writing
  • Be in the official local language and the local currency
  • Include salary/compensation, benefits and termination requirements
Full-time Employees:
  • Have specific working terms and conditions
  • Can be eligible for organizational perks and/or other benefits
  • Tend to be more focused [as only one employer] and familiar with the specific business – due to e.g. ongoing company training etc.
  • Probationary period is 3 months [maximum] for indefinite contracts
  • Probationary period is 2 months [maximum] for fixed-term contracts
    • Probationary period/s are governed by certain pre-conditions in Djibouti
    • Termination during the probationary period/s generally doesn’t require notice or compensation

WHAT INCOME IS TAXABLE IN Djibouti:

Any income earned in the form of cash, wages, salary, overtime, leave pay or payment in lieu of leave, commissions, gratuity, bonus, or any amount that has benefited the employee. All income will be taxed in accordance with the law and the final payroll issued monthly.

What income is exempt from taxes in Djibouti:

Since 1949 Djibouti has been operating a free-port – ‘Djibouti Free-zone’. Apart from other incentives, foreign companies domiciled in the free-port can receive a five to ten-year tax exemption – subject to certain conditions.

For individuals: Any income earned in the form of cash, wages, salary, overtime, leave pay or payment in lieu of leave, commissions, gratuity, bonus, or any amount that has benefited the employee is taxable i.e. not exempt from taxes.

Standard working hours: Number Overtime to be paid?

Standard Working Hours
  • 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week for most employees.
  • Longer working hours may apply to certain industries.
Overtime Pay
  • Any work hours beyond the standard working hours are considered overtime.
  • Overtime pay is typically 150% of the employee’s regular hourly rate for the first 2 hours of overtime worked, and 200% of the regular hourly rate for any additional hours worked beyond that.
  • Overtime work should be voluntary, and employees have the right to refuse to work overtime if they choose to do so.
  • Employers are required to keep accurate records of overtime worked, including the number of hours worked and the amount of overtime pay due.

Mandatory contributions?

Employee

Contribution Type Contribution Rate Threshold
Social Security Fund (CNaPS)
6%
None
National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM)
3%
None
National Pension Fund (CNAPS)
1%
None

Employer

Contribution Type Contribution Rate Threshold
Social Security (CNaPS)
6%
None
National Health Insurance (CNAM)
3%
None
National Employment and Vocational Training Fund (FNEF)
1%
None

Social

Contribution Type Employers Employees
Social Security (CNaPS)
6%
6%
National Health Insurance (CNAM)
3%
3%
National Employment and Vocational Training Fund (FNEF)
1%
N/A

What is the Maternity and Paternity policy within Djibouti:

Maternity leave
  • Entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave. Eight weeks are to be taken before the birth and six after.
Paternity leave
  • Immediately after delivery or miscarriage entitled to 3 working days leave from work.

What type of leave is allowed in Djibouti

Annual leave

  • Employees in Djibouti are entitled to annual leave after one year of employment. This annual leave accrues at the rate of 2 1⁄2 days per month from the first day the employee commences employment.

Sick Leave

  • Employees are entitled to 29 days of sick leave paid at 50% of the basic rate by social security. For any additional day beyond the 29 days, the employee receives 75% of the basic salary.

Do I need to pay a mandatory bonus annually OR is it discretionary in Djibouti:

Bonuses are not mandatory in Djibouti. If an employer decides to pay bonus/es it is at their discretion and usually based on performance and/or length of service.

What Gratuity / Severance payments do you need to provide for Djibouti:

  • Employers must provide severance payments to employees when their employment is terminated.
  • The amount of severance pay depends on the employee’s length of service:
    • Less than one year: one month’s salary.
    • One to five years: two months’ salary.
    • More than five years: three months’ salary.
  • Resignation by the employee does not typically require severance payment, unless it is a case of constructive dismissal.

CAN YOU GIVE FRINGE BENEFITS IN Djibouti:

Yes you can but keep in mind that Fringe Benefits will be subject to employee PAYE tax. Only benefits that cannot be converted to cash will not be subject to tax. If the employer covers some of the employees expenses i.e. mobile phone then it must be subject to PAYE tax and either the employer will cover this portion for the employee or the employee will bear the PAYE tax.

Mandatory Probation period of Djibouti:

There is no mandatory probation period in Djibouti, and it is typically agreed upon in the employment contract between one to six months, extendable by mutual agreement, with the ability for both parties to terminate the contract without notice or compensation during this time.

What are the Corporate and VAT / Sales tax rates in Djibouti:

Corporate Tax Rates: 25% [in general]

VAT / Sales Tax Rates: 10% [on most goods and services]

Public Holidays in Djibouti:

  • January 1 - New Year's Day
  • February 18 - Al Isra et Al Mirague
  • April 22 - Eid ul-Fitr
  • April 23 - Eid ul-Fitr Holiday
  • May 01 - Labour Day
  • June 27 - Independence Day
  • June 29 - Eid Al Adha
  • June 30 - Eid Al Adha Holiday
  • July 19 - Awal Muharram
  • September 27 - Prophet Mohammed's Birthday
  • December 25 - Christmas Day
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What Industries we support in Djibouti:

  • Non-Governmental Organization’s (NGO) / Non- profit
  • Engineering & Construction
  • Government / Development Agencies
  • Oil & Gas
  • FMCG & Manufacturing
  • Private Equality, Finance, Insurance & Banking
  • Mining
  • Agriculture

What Double Tax Treaties are in place in Djibouti:

Djibouti has concluded agreements on protecting investment with the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries (OPEC) and on avoiding double taxation with China (2004) and Egypt (1998). The agreements with Malaysia, Switzerland and Yemen have not yet been ratified.

The information provided above is for an “informative decision” and may change at any given time without prior notice.  We always suggest speaking to one of our Sales Consultants before engaging in country.

Can we help you with Djibouti?