Definitive Guide to Hiring in Togo

Hiring in Togo

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

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

Labor Laws in Togo

Employee Probation Period

• For workers paid monthly, the probationary period is one month (renewable once) for workers, employees and others; three months (renewable once) for supervisors, technicians and associated professionals six months (non-renewable) for managers and others

Annual Leave in Togo

• Workers are entitled to an annual holiday of 30 days a year for two and a half days per month.

Holidays in Togo

Maternity Leave Togo

• The Labor Code provides 14 weeks (98 days) of maternity leave for women, including 6 weeks of post-natal leave
• Maternity leave may be extended by a further 3 weeks in the case of a complication and illness resulting from pregnancy, childbirth or multiple pregnancies or for reasons of child’s health duly noted by doctor.

Paternity Leave Togo

• There is no mandatory paternity leave

Sick Leave in Togo

• According to the Labor Code, a worker is entitled to sick leave for 5 days a year.

Working Hours in Togo

• Normal working hours are 40 hours per week.

Overtime in Togo

• In accordance with the Interprofessional Collective Agreement, an employer is required to pay overtime pay at the following rates:
  • 20% of their hourly wage for the first 8 hours during the day (41 to 48 hours);
  • 40% of their hourly wage for overtime of more than 48 hours during the day; and
  • 65% of normal pay if they work on Sundays and holidays.

Termination of Employment in Togo

• The fixed-term contract terminates on the expiry of its term or upon termination by one of the parties.
• The fixed-term contract can also be broken in case of force majeure; agreement of the parties, provided that it is recorded in writing; heavy mistake; and the judicial resolution.
• The employment contract of indefinite duration may be terminated by the will of one of the parties, provided that the party initiating the termination gives notice.
• The Collective Agreement specifies the minimum duration of the notice period as follows:
  • one month for workers, employees and the like;
  • three months for supervisors, managers and others; and
  • five days for paid workers per hour.
• A 2011 collective agreement requires employers to provide severance pay in cases of dismissal on economic grounds to employees with at least one year of continuous service with the same employer.
• The amount varies according to the years of continuous service:
  • a lump sum of 35% of the employee's average annual salary during the employment period with one to five years;
  • a lump sum of 40% with six to nine years; or
  • a lump sum of 45% with 10 or more years.

Notice Period in Togo

• The Collective Agreement specifies the minimum duration of the notice period as follows:
  • one month for workers, employees and the like;
  • three months for supervisors, managers and others; and
  • five days for paid workers per hour.

Severance in Togo

• A 2011 collective agreement requires employers to provide severance pay in cases of dismissal on economic grounds to employees with at least one year of continuous service with the same employer.
• The amount varies according to the years of continuous service:
  • a lump sum of 35% of the employee's average annual salary during the employment period with one to five years;
  • a lump sum of 40% with six to nine years; or
  • a lump sum of 45% with 10 or more years.

Togo Salary and Wages

13th / 14th Month Salary in Togo

• No
• There is no statutory requirement to pay the 13th or the 14th month salary.
• There benefits that employee receive include retirement and parental benefits, but there is no evidence that monetary benefits are common.

• Employers must make monthly social security contributions of 17.5% of their employees’ monthly gross salary
• The employee contribution is 4% of gross remuneration.

Immigration Togo

• Nationals from certain countries, including Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Senegal, do not need a visa to enter Togo.
• Individuals with diplomatic and service passports from China and Morocco do not require a visa.
• Everyone else must obtain one of the following visa types:
  • Tourist visa: Individuals traveling to Togo for tourism, a visit, or other nonbusiness-related purposes should apply for this single- or multiple-entry visa, which is valid for up to 90 days.
  • Business visa: Foreigners entering the country for business-related purposes should obtain a single- or multiple-entry business visa for up to 90 days.
  • Immigration visa: This visa is for foreigners intending to live in Togo long-term.
• The most common documents that applicants will need across visa types include:
  • A passport valid for at least six months from the end of the stay with two blank pages
  • Copies of the employee’s first two passport pages
  • A completed visa application form
  • Two recent passport-size photos
  • Proof of a return flight
  • Travel insurance for the duration of the stay
  • A yellow fever certificate
• Immigration visas require proof of income, such as a bank statement, as well as proof of health insurance and a motivational letter for moving to Togo.

Value Added Tax (VAT) in Togo

• The standard VAT rate is 18%.
• Companies that supply certain services, including financial, insurance, medical and transport services, are exempt from VAT.

Mandatory Benefits in Togo

• 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

Payments And Invoicing

• The tax year is the calendar year.
• Spouses are taxed separately.
• However, a single return for the total income of a household may be requested.
• If an individual only has employment income, the employer withholds tax under the PAYE system and remits the balance tax to the government by 31 January of the following tax year.
• If the individual derives other income, he/she must submit an annual return by 31 March of the following tax year.
• An individual must make advance payments of tax on other income by 31 January, 31 May, 31 July and 31 October of each year.
• Penalties for failure to comply with the tax rules vary, up to a maximum of XOF150 000.

Payroll Accrual in Togo

Country Accruals Additional Information

Payroll Accruals Additional Information

Accrued Benefits in Togo

Why use Global Expansion to hire in Togo

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

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

Global Expansion makes it easy for you to expand into Togo. 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 Togo 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.