Definitive Guide to Hiring in Saint Lucia

Hiring in Saint Lucia

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

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

Labor Laws in Saint Lucia

Employee Probation Period

Annual Leave in Saint Lucia

• 1 to 3 years , 16 days working days
• 4 to 7 years, 21 working days
• 8 to 14 years , 24 working days
• 15 years and over, 28 working days
  
  

Holidays in Saint Lucia

Maternity Leave Saint Lucia

• Female employees are entitled to thirteen weeks of maternity leave and such leave shall, except in the case of premature delivery, be comprised of
  • at least six weeks before confinement; and
  • at least six weeks after confinement unless the employee chooses to return to work before that time

Paternity Leave Saint Lucia

• Paternity leave grants eligible employees up to five (5) days of paid leave following the birth of his child, or upon the initial placement or legal adoption of a child under age 18.

Sick Leave in Saint Lucia

• The employer agrees to pay full wages for the first three (3) days of absence from work, provided that a medical certificate is presented on the third day, and provided that the employee who is sick and unable to report to work shall be obliged to make every reasonable effort to notify, in whatever way possible, his/her foreman or supervisor on the first day of absence.

Working Hours in Saint Lucia

• An employer shall not require any employee to work for more than forty hours during any week, excluding overtime.

Overtime in Saint Lucia

• Overtime refers for work performed after the agreed times set out in Article 6 (excluding shift workers) shall be paid as follows;-
  
  Monday through Friday
  For the first three (3) hours, at a time and a half; double time thereafter.
  
  Saturdays 
  For the first four (4) hours at a time and a half; double time thereafter.
  
  Sundays and designated Public Holidays
  For the first eight (8) hours, at double time and half; triple time thereafter.

Termination of Employment in Saint Lucia

• An employer is entitled to dismiss, summarily without notice, an employee who is guilty of serious misconduct of such a nature that it would be unreasonable to require the employer to continue the employment relationship. 
• Serious misconduct includes but is not limited to
  • willful disobedience of lawful orders given by the employer; 
  • repeated substantial neglect of duties; 
  • repeated absence from work without the permission of the employer or without reasonable excuse; 
  • refusing to follow health and safety measures instituted at work thereby endangering the health and safety of employees or members of the public; 
  • theft or willful damage of property of the employer or another employee at the work place; or 
  • conduct inconsistent with the fulfillment of the expressed or implied terms of the employee’s contract of employment.
• A contract without reference to limit of time, except during the probationary period, may be terminated by the employer upon giving to the employee the following minimum periods of notice in writing 
  • one week’s notice if the period of continuous employment is more than twelve weeks but less than two years; 
  • two weeks’ notice if the period of continuous employment is two years or more but less than five years; 
  • four weeks’ notice if the period of continuous employment is five years or more but less than ten years; and 
  • six weeks’ notice if the period of continuous employment is more than ten years.
• On termination of employment due to redundancy an employee who has completed no less than two years of continuous employment with his or her employer is entitled to be paid by the employer redundancy pay equivalent to 
• one week’s basic pay for each completed year of service up to the first three years; 
• two weeks’ basic pay for each completed year of service in excess of three years and up to seven years; or 
• three weeks’ basic pay for each completed year of service in excess of seven years of service.

Notice Period in Saint Lucia

• A contract without reference to limit of time, except during the probationary period, may be terminated by the employer upon giving to the employee the following minimum periods of notice in writing
  • one week’s notice if the period of continuous employment is more than twelve weeks but less than two years;
  • two weeks’ notice if the period of continuous employment is two years or more but less than five years; 
  • four weeks’ notice if the period of continuous employment is five years or more but less than ten years; and 
  • six weeks’ notice if the period of continuous employment is more than ten years.
  
  Notice to be given by the Employee to the Employer (Section 153)
  • Not less than 1 week- if the employee has worked continuously over 12 weeks but less than 5 years.
  • Not less than 2 weeks- if the employee worked continuously over 5 years

Severance in Saint Lucia

• On termination of employment due to redundancy an employee who has completed no less than two years of continuous employment with his or her employer is entitled to be paid by the employer redundancy pay equivalent to
  • one week’s basic pay for each completed year of service up to the first three years;
  • two weeks’ basic pay for each completed year of service in excess of three years and up to seven years; or 
  • three weeks’ basic pay for each completed year of service in excess of seven years of service.

Saint Lucia Salary and Wages

13th / 14th Month Salary in Saint Lucia

• 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.

• The individual's share of National Insurance Corporation (NIC) contributions (for retirement, sickness, and disability benefits) is 5% of gross salary, up to a maximum contribution of XCD 250 per month (i.e. on a monthly salary of XCD 5,000). 
• The employer matches the contribution and files monthly returns.

Immigration Saint Lucia

• Visitors to Saint Lucia must obtain a visa unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries that can obtain a visa on arrival.
• Cruise ship passengers visiting Saint Lucia for one day are exempted from obtaining visas.
• Foreign nationals from some countries intending to visit Saint Lucia for business, pleasure or study are required to have a valid passport from their country and to obtain a valid Saint Lucian visa.
• The following documents are necessary for a non-immigrant visa: -
  • 2 certified passport size photographs
  • A valid passport for up to six months
  • A return ticket to port of origin
  • Copy of travel itinerary
  • Proof of hotel/private accommodation
  • Letter of invitation (if invited by friend or relative with 2 certified passport size photographs)
• Foreigners seeking employment in Saint Lucia must obtain a work permit
• Before an Application for a Work Permit can be obtained a non- refundable fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) is to be paid to the Accountant General at the Government Treasury.
• Payment is acceptable upon presentation of the necessary “A” Form duly completed by the Work Permit Officer.
• The Treasury Receipt is addressed to the Work Permit Officer who will then issue the Application.
• Documents to be attached to the application are as follows:
  • A Police record from the country where the applicant last resided
  • Certified documentary proof of qualifications 
  • Trade License (where applicable) 
  • Copies of advertisements for the posts 
  • Evidence that income tax has been paid 
  • One (1) passport size photograph

Value Added Tax (VAT) in Saint Lucia

• The standard VAT rate is 12.5%. 
• There is also a 0% rate charged on certain goods and services. 
• In respect of the hotel sector and related services, a reduced rate of 10% applies.

Mandatory Benefits in Saint Lucia

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

Payroll Accrual in Saint Lucia

Country Accruals Additional Information

Description

Payroll Accruals Additional Information

Accrued Benefits in Saint Lucia

Why use Global Expansion to hire in Saint Lucia

Establishing a branch office or subsidiary in Saint Lucia 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 Lucia labor laws are complex.

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

Global Expansion makes it easy for you to expand into Saint Lucia. 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 Lucia 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.