Definitive Guide to Hiring in Botswana

Hiring in Botswana

Hiring employees compliantly in Botswana means doing it yourself or using an Employer of Record like Global Expansion. You should be careful using independent contractor agreements in Botswana so that you don’t run afoul of employment laws. To hire an employee compliantly and offer them mandatory benefits and compliant agreements, you can:

(a) Establish your own new legal entity, banking, accounting and payroll service in Botswana or

(b) use an Employer of Record like Global Expansion who can handle all of the details for you.

Labor Laws in Botswana

Probation Period

• Unskilled employees may serve a probationary period of up to three months and skilled employees for 12 months.

Annual Leave in Botswana

• Employees are generally entitled to 15 days of paid leave per year, 8 days of which must be taken within 6 months.
• The remaining days must be taken within 3 years

Holidays in Botswana

Maternity Leave Botswana

• Female employees are generally entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave, 6 weeks to be taken before the birth and 6 after.
• The employee must present a doctor’s certificate.
• Employees are eligible to receive at least 50% of their basic pay.

Paternity Leave Botswana

• There is no statutory paternity leave.

Sick Leave in Botswana

• Employees are generally entitled to 20 days of paid sick leave per year and must provide a doctor’s certificate.

Working Hours in Botswana

• In general, the workweek is limited to 48 hours, with no more than 9 hours per day for a 5-day week, or 8 hours per day for a 6-day week.

Overtime in Botswana

• Employees are limited to 14 hours of overtime per week and are eligible for 1 1/2 times their normal hourly rate.
• Work on public holidays or rest time should be paid at twice the normal wage rate.

Notice Period in Botswana

• Notice period is as follows:-
  • Two to five years of service, 2 weeks of notice period

• • Five to 10 years of service, 1 month of notice period

• • Over 10 years of service, 6 weeks of notice period

Severance in Botswana

• Managers, administrators, executives, and professional staff are generally entitled to severance after serving 60 months of continuous employment.
• The payment is equal to the rate of one day’s basic pay for each month served during the first 60 months and two days for each additional month served.
• Employees who receive a gratuity or pension at the end of employment are not entitled to the severance benefit.

Botswana Salary and Wages

13th / 14th Month Salary in Botswana

• Yes
• There is no statutory requirement to pay the 13th or 14th month.
• Employers have the discretion to have such bonuses and they are generally agreed in employment contract.

There are no social security taxes or contributions in Botswana.

Immigration Botswana

• All foreign nationals must obtain valid entry visas to enter Botswana, with the exception of nationals from most British Commonwealth countries and from the following countries with which Botswana has entered into visa-abolition agreements.
• Although Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are British Commonwealth countries, their citizens must have visas to enter Botswana.
• All foreign nationals may visit Botswana as visitors or tourists subject to compliance with immigration regulations.
• Visitors are allowed a maximum of 90-day stays within a 12-month period.
• On application, they may be permitted by the Chief Immigration Officer to stay longer than 90 days.
• An ordinary visa authorizes the holder to enter Botswana on several occasions for the periods endorsed on the visa.
• Normally, this visa application takes at least 21 days to be processed.
• The visa is usually valid for no more than three months.
• The following documents are required to apply for all visitor visas:
  • A valid passport
  • Letter of support from the host
  • Letter requesting a visitor visa
• Visas are issued at the discretion of the Chief Immigration Officer
  • Foreign nationals may obtain work permits in Botswana.
  • In general, the permit is granted for the requested period, up to five years.
  • Work permits may be renewed for as long as their holders are employed.
  • A foreign national holding a valid work permit may change employers after signing a contract with the new employer.
  • However, his or her permit is canceled and he or she must reapply with respect to the new company.
  • The approximate turnaround time for obtaining the outcome of a work permit application, after all appropriate documents are submitted, is 10 to 12 weeks.
  • Foreign nationals may be self-employed in Botswana if they hold investor work permits and residence permits.
  • No set minimum capital investment is necessary.
• A work permit holder may operate any business that is not reserved for the citizens of Botswana.

Value Added Tax (VAT) in Botswana

• VAT is imposed on taxable supplies and the importation of goods into Botswana.
• The standard VAT rate of 12% applies to all supplies that do not qualify for an exemption or are not zero-rated.

Mandatory Benefits in Botswana

• These are mandatory benefits as postulated by law
• These include probationary period, annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, maternity leave, overtime pay, notice period, and severance pay
• Statutory benefits also include social security benefits

Payroll Accrual in Botswana

Country Accruals Additional Information

Payroll Accruals Additional Information

Accrued Benefits in Botswana

Why use Global Expansion to hire in Botswana

Establishing a branch office or subsidiary in Botswana can be time-consuming, expensive and complex. With such a robust labor market in place, one must pay great attention to detail when structuring employment because Botswana labor laws are complex.

The company also has a responsibility to comply with specific employment practices dictated by Botswana law to maintain its good standing as an equal opportunity employer.

Global Expansion makes it easy for you to expand into Botswana. We'll help you hire your candidate of choice, handle HR matters and payroll, and ensure that you comply with local laws without the burden of setting up a foreign branch office or subsidiary. In addition, you'll have complete control and direction over your employees.

We enable you to stay in control of everything. Our Botswana Global Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and Employer of Record (EOR) solution provides you with peace of mind to focus on running your company and the security to enter new markets.