COUNTRY

Employment contracts in the Ivory Coast can be permanent or for a fixed-term. Fixed-term contracts should be in writing. Contracts must be in French and contain at least the following:

• contract commencement date,

• work location,

• name and address of the employer,

• name, gender, date and place of birth, address and nationality of the employee,

• position and work to be performed,

• duration of the contract,

• probation period, if any,

• salary and any bonuses,

• applicable regulations or collective agreements,

• any other details agreed between the parties.

If the employer or employee cannot read or sign the contract, intent to enter into an employment agreement can be indicated by other means (e.g., verbally) but must be proved.

Working hours in the Ivory Coast are limited to 40 hours per week for non-agricultural companies. Non-agricultural employees can work eight hours a day for five consecutive days, or six hours and 40 minutes per day for six days a week. Overtime is limited to 15 hours a week for both agricultural and non-agricultural workers without exceeding the daily limit of three hours per day. Overtime is paid between 15% and 100% over the employee’s salary.

Employees may be eligible for sick pay through the Ivory Coast social security system in the amount of 100% of their last month’s earnings for up to six months. Benefits may be extended for a total of 12 months.

Female employees receive 14 weeks of paid maternity leave in the Ivory Coast with six weeks to be taken before the birth and eight weeks taken after the birth. Two additional weeks are provided for multiple births. Leave can be extended by up to 21 days in the event of pregnancy or childbirth related illnesses, and up to 12 months if the child is hospitalized.

Employees are entitled to a monthly minimum wage in the Ivory Coast. If there are no individual or collective agreements between the parties, a bonus related to seniority, attendance or performance is required.

Employees receive 24 days of annual leave in the Ivory Coast. This increases by two days after 15 years of service, four days for employees with 20 years of service, six days after 25 years and eight days after 30 years. Collective bargaining agreements may provide for more leave.

In the Ivory Coast, the public holidays are:

• New Year's Day

• Easter Monday

• Day After Laila tou-Kadr

• Eid el-Fitr

• Labor Day

• Ascension Day

• Whit Monday

• Eid el-Kebir

• Independence Day

• Assumption of Mary

• The Day After the Prophet's Birthday

• All Saints Day

• National Peace Day

• Christmas Day

The Ivory Coast provides universal health insurance, though employers may offer private healthcare insurance.

An employment contract may be terminated in the Ivory Coast with written notice. The period of notice depends on whether the employee is paid monthly or in shorter intervals (hourly, daily, weekly, or bi-weekly). For monthly paid employees, the notice period is between one and four months depending on length of service. The required notice period for employees paid hourly, daily, weekly or bi-weekly generally is between eight days and four months depending on length of service. Employers must pay severance to employees with more than one year of service who are discharged for reasons other than misconduct or gross negligence. The severance amount is 30% to 40% of the employee’s wages for the 12 months preceding the date of dismissal depending on length of service.