Definitive Guide to Hiring in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Hiring in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Hiring employees compliantly in Saint Kitts and Nevis means doing it yourself or using an Employer of Record like Global Expansion. You should be careful using independent contractor agreements in Saint Kitts and Nevis 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis; or

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

Labor Laws in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Employment laws in Saint Kitts and Nevis are uniquely suited to the country’s way of life, and crucial to understand if you want to employ local talent in this country. Get the details on Saint Kitts and Nevis employment laws and Saint Kitts and Nevis policies here.

Employee Probation Period

• The probationary period means a period not exceeding one month in the case of household employment and three months in other employment.

Annual Leave in Saint Kitts and Nevis

• A worker is entitled to an annual paid holiday of not less than 14 days, excluding Sundays and Public holidays, on the completion of each year of employment.

Holidays in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Maternity Leave Saint Kitts and Nevis

• An employee shall be entitled to thirteen weeks' maternity leave, at least two weeks up to and including the date of her confinement and at least six weeks immediately from that date.

Paternity Leave Saint Kitts and Nevis

• There is no paternity leave

Sick Leave in Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Sickness benefits will only be paid if illness is certified for more than 3 consecutive days excluding Sundays. 
• A claim for Sickness Benefit should be made no later than 10 days from the day on which the claimant was examined by a doctor and given leave from work.
• An insured person will be paid 65% of his/her average weekly wages. 

Working Hours in Saint Kitts and Nevis

• The typical work week is 40hrs, 8 hrs a day. 

Overtime in Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Overtime shall be paid at time and a half (1 ½) the normal rate during the weekdays and twice (2) the normal rate on Sundays, Public Holidays and Rest Days, except where Sunday is scheduled as part of a shift arrangement, and is therefore paid at time and a half (1 ½) the normal rate.

Termination of Employment in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Employment may be terminated in the following circumstances: 

• without notice during probationary period except otherwise provided in writing in contract; 
• without notice where the employee is guilty of serious misconduct in relation to his/her employment; 
• without notice where employee is guilty of misconduct in relation to his/her employment or the employee is no longer performing his/her duties satisfactorily: provided employee has been warned in writing on at least two occasions within a period of six months indicating the nature of the misconduct or unsatisfactory performance and in the case of the last warning, employer stated his/her intention to dismiss the employee for a repeat offence or continued unsatisfactory performance. 
• Where medical practitioner certifies infirmity of mind or body likely to be permanent, provided infirmity lasted for a period of three months; 
• Where employee redundant for reason that – 
  • employer has discontinued or ceased to carry on all or part of business;
  • employer has modernized, automated or mechanized all or part business;
  • employer has reorganized business to improve efficiency; 
  • employer finds it impossible to carry on business at the usual rate or level due to shortage of material or a mechanical breakdown or for any cause beyond his control; 
  • employer is forced to reduce business due to lack of market or change in market; 
• where employer dies and business ceases to exist; 
• where business is liquidated by bankruptcy or otherwise.

Notice Period in Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Notice by employer should be as follows: 

• • three months and less than a year’s continuous service, one-week notice 
  • one year and less than three years, two weeks’ notice; 
  • three years and less than five years, three weeks’ notice; 
  • Five and less than seven years, four weeks 
  • Seven and less than ten years, five weeks 
  • Ten and less than fifteen years and more, six weeks 
  • Fifteen and more, ten weeks
  • monthly paid with three months and less than five years’ continuous service, one month; and 
  • monthly paid with five and less than ten years, two months; 
  • ten and more years, three months.

Severance in Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Severance pay is calculated on the following basis 

• • two weeks per year in respect of the first five years of employment with the employer;
  • three weeks in respect of five to ten years of employment with the employer; 
  • four weeks in respect of any period in excess of ten years. 

• Period of half a year or more is counted as a full year for purposes of severance pay. 
• There is a maximum payment of no more than fifty-two weeks pay.

Saint Kitts and Nevis Salary and Wages

13th / 14th Month Salary in Saint Kitts and Nevis

• No
• There is no statutory requirement to pay the 13th or the 14th month salary.
• There is no evidence that it is customary to give bonuses.

• Employers contribute 5% of employee earnings for social security (main scheme) and 1% of employee earnings for employment injury benefits.
• The contribution ceiling for the main scheme and employment injury benefits is XCD 6,500 per month.
• Employers also contribute 3% of employee earnings for the housing and Social Development Levy and 1% of employee earnings for severance payments.

Immigration Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Visa requirements for Saint Kitts and Nevis citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis. 
• As of 7 July 2020, Saint Kitts and Nevis citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 156 countries and territories, ranking the Saint Kitts and Nevis passport 26th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index
• Saint Kitts and Nevis started issuing tourist visas valid for 30 days or 90 days depending on how many entries you will do, in a simplified procedure to visitors from 73 countries. 
• The Entry Visa system allows citizens to obtain entry-exit tourist visas on arrival to and from Saint Kitts and Nevis.
• The St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program is the oldest of its kind in the world.
• Established in 1984 the program grants citizenship through donation or real estate investment to qualified applicants. 
• The government requires investment of either a minimum donation of $150,000 to the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) or investment of $400,000 in real estate (can be reduced to $200,000 for connected investors) plus related government and due diligence fees.

Value Added Tax (VAT) in Saint Kitts and Nevis

• VAT is levied on the sales of goods and services on the islands and on imports of goods and services to St. Kitts and Nevis. 
• The VAT rate is 17%; in the tourist and hotel sector the rate drops to 10%.

Mandatory Benefits in Saint Kitts and Nevis

• 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis

Country Accruals Additional Information

Payroll Accruals Additional Information

Accrued Benefits in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Why use Global Expansion to hire in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Establishing a branch office or subsidiary in Saint Kitts and Nevis 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis labor laws are complex.

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

Global Expansion makes it easy for you to expand into Saint Kitts and Nevis. 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis 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.