Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, and formally the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a nation on West Africa's southern coast. Its political capital is Yamoussoukro, located in the country's center, while its major city and economic center is Abidjan, located on the coast. It is bounded to the northwest by Guinea, to the west by Liberia, to the northwest by Mali, to the northeast by Burkina Faso, to the east by Ghana, and to the south by the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean). Its official language is French, although indigenous languages such as Bété, Baoulé, Dioula, Dan, Anyin, and Cebaara Senufo are also commonly spoken. Ivory Coast is home to about 78 distinct languages. The nation has a spiritually varied population, with many Christians, Muslims, and indigenous peoples practicing their beliefs.
Prior to the European invasion, Ivory Coast was home to various nations, including Gyaaman, the Kong Empire, and Baoulé. During the European rush for Africa, the territory became a French protectorate in 1843 and was established as a French colony in 1893. It gained independence in 1960 under the leadership of Félix Houphout-Boigny, who controlled the nation until 1993. Ivory Coast, which is relatively stable by regional standards, forged tight political and economic links with its West African neighbors while retaining close contacts with the West, particularly France. A coup in 1999, followed by two civil conflicts, the first between 2002 and 2007, and the second between 2010 and 2011. In the year 2000, it enacted a new constitution.
Ivory Coast is a republic in which the president has considerable executive authority. It was an economic powerhouse in West Africa throughout the 1960s and 1970s due to the production of coffee and cocoa, but underwent an economic crisis in the 1980s, leading to a period of political and social unrest. It was not until roughly 2014 that its gross domestic product returned to its 1970s high level. Ivory Coast was the world's leading exporter of cocoa beans in 2020, with significant levels of revenue for the area. The Ivorian economy is still strongly reliant on agriculture, with smallholder cash crop production dominating in the twenty-first century.
Fixed-term contracts may be canceled prior to the end of the agreed period only in the event of force majeure, mutual consent, or grave misbehavior on the side of either party. After six months of employment, employees may cancel indefinite contracts. Employers may cancel indefinite contracts at any moment for a legitimate reason. Employers must warn employees in writing and adhere to the notice periods specified under employment law, which vary according to pay grade and occupation.
Depending on whether the employee is paid monthly or more frequently, the required notice period varies (hourly, daily, weekly, or bi-weekly). Depending on the length of employment, monthly paid employees often have a notice period of one to four months. Employees who work hourly, daily, weekly, or biweekly are usually required to give notice for eight to four months, depending on their duration of service.
Probation periods differ by the type of employee. For hourly employees, the probation period is eight days. For monthly paid workers, the probation period is one month. For supervisors, technicians, and jobs of the same nature, the probation period is two months. For engineers, managers, high-level technicians, and jobs of the same nature, the probation period is three months.
In Cote d'Ivoire, severance pay is determined by the length of the employee's employment with the company. Severance pay is 30% of the monthly wage for the first five years of work. For six to ten years of service, severance pay is 35% of the monthly earnings. For employees with more than ten years of service, severance pay is 40% of the monthly wage.
In general, Côte d'Ivoire operates on a 40-hour work week comprised of five eight-hour days or six days with 6 hours and 40 minutes of work.
Due to the intermittent nature of certain endeavors and occupations, a higher number of hours is established as equivalent to 40 hours.
Equivalents range from 40-44 hours in non-agricultural jobs to 48-52 hours in agricultural jobs and 56 hours for guards and domestic staff.
Permanent exceptions to the standard weekly work hours apply to the following categories of workers: mechanics, electricians, and drivers; workers and employees engaged in the entertainment and cleaning of machinery and work tools; and team leader or specialized worker whose presence is required. Except for personnel engaged in surveillance or fire suppression, derogations cannot exceed two hours per day.
In general, overtime work is limited to three hours per day, fifteen hours per week, and seventy-five hours per year. Compensation for the 41st to the 46th hour of work will increase by 15%. Compensation increases by 50% after 46 hours of work.
Night work or day work on Sundays and public holidays is compensated at 75%. Additionally, night work on Sundays and public holidays should be increased by 100%.
Temporary deviations from daily work hours are permitted to make up for lost time due to accident, force majeure, such as a shortage of raw materials or a lack of means of transport, or for urgent and exceptional work, such as the need for a team leader in the event of his/her unexpected absence.
Workers have the option of working overtime or not. Any agreement that fixes wages through forfeiture, regardless of the number of weekly overtime hours worked, is null and void.
The compensation laws of Côte d'Ivoire include a minimum wage that varies by occupation. The minimum wage was last increased in 1994, and the lowest monthly rate is 36,607 CFA francs for industrial workers. Construction workers earn slightly more, and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) may also affect the wages you must pay employees.
Employers are required by the Ivory Coast's Labor Code to pay employees directly or indirectly in cash or in kind. Employees who work 40 hours per week should be compensated 12 times a year, or once a month.
In February 2015, Côte d'Ivoire began enrolling its residents in a universal health care system. The program's objective is for all citizens aged 5 and above to pay 1,000 CFA francs each month for low-cost treatment.
There is currently no information regarding taxation in Cote d'Ivoire
There is currently no information regarding taxation in Cote d'Ivoire
There is currently no information regarding taxation in Cote d'Ivoire
When you apply online, the only thing you have to actively do is fill out an online application form.
All candidates must have a valid passport. Furthermore, the passport must be valid for at least another 6 months from the date of entry in Ivory Coast. Simultaneously, the passport must include at least one vacant page. Before applying, you should take a brief glance at its expiration date.
Another need is that you be immunized against Yellow Fever. After all, this is Africa, and epidemics do occur from time to time. As a consequence, you should see your primary care physician and have the Yellow Fever treated. At the border, a certificate is necessary.
The date of the contract commencing
The location of work
The name and address of the employer
The name, gender, date and place of birth, address and nationality of the employee
Position and work to be performed
Duration of the contract
Salary and any bonuses
Applicable regulations or collective agreements
Any other details agreed between the parties
Employment contracts might be permanent or for a certain amount of time. A probationary period is permitted and should be documented, as are fixed-term contracts.
West African CFA franc (XOF)
When deciding to build a new business site in Côte d'Ivoire, you must examine many aspects that may have an influence on the subsidiary creation procedure. Because various areas or localities in Côte d'Ivoire may have their own Côte d'Ivoire subsidiary laws, we suggest exploring at several locations for your office space first. Before deciding on a site, do some research to ensure that you select a city with the greatest legislation.
You should also consider critical business aspects such as how you want to incorporate in the nation, since this decision will have an influence on the sort of subsidiary you pick. Businesses in Côte d'Ivoire may form a limited liability company (LLC), a public limited company, a branch, or a representative office, and each entity has its own set of rules. Many businesses want to form an LLC because it grants them several freedoms in the nation and shields their parent firm from legal action.
The following actions are required to establish your Côte d'Ivoire subsidiary as an LLC:
(1) Making a preliminary notary draft of your statutes with evidence of paid-up capital
(2) Opening a bank account in the nation
(3) Putting down your paid-up capital
(4) Registration with a one-stop shop and dissemination of legal notices
(5) Developing a corporate seal
The subsidiary laws of Côte d'Ivoire differ depending on the kind of organization selected. If you decide to form an LLC, you'll require at least one director and one shareholder of any country. You will also need at least $2,000 in paid-up capital, which should be placed into your Ivory Coast bank account.
As an LLC, you are responsible for hiring an auditor who will submit your company's yearly audited financial accounts. According to the OHADA system, you must also maintain your financial records in French, thus you'll need to engage a French specialist or collaborate with a third party.
