Find your employer of record in Togo

Togo, although being one of Africa's smallest countries, is a thriving financial and logistical hub in the Sub-Saharan African area.

The Togolese economy is quickly rising, with considerable rise in GDP in recent years. Togo's agriculture employs a large portion of the population, and the country's top exports include cotton, cocoa, and coffee. Mining is another industry that is propelling Togo's economic development, and the nation possesses large supplies of limestone and marble.

These are statutorily mandatory benefits. Probationary term, yearly leave, public holidays, sick leave, maternity leave, overtime pay, notice period, and severance compensation are all examples. However, social security benefits are also statutory benefits.

One critical component of developing your business in Togo is ensuring that all of your workers have a Togo work visa in order to legally operate in Togo. Citizens of Benin, Guinea, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, and Niger, as well as holders of diplomatic passports issued by Morocco and China, are exempt from visa requirements. Togo has the following work visa categories:

Visa for Business

Non-residents visiting Togo for business should apply for a business visa. The validity period is 90 days.

Visa for Immigration

The immigrant visa is intended for non-residents who plan to live and work in Togo on a long-term basis.

Work visa requirements in Togo

Employees need the following papers to apply for a work visa in Togo:

• A current passport.
• Photocopies of passports.
• Complete the visa application that has been filled out correctly.
• The most recent passport-sized photos.
• Proof of return flight.
• Travel insurance that is up to date.
• Certificate for Yellow Fever.
• Bank statements are accepted as proof of income.
• Health coverage
• A letter explaining the reasons for immigration to Togo.

Togo Work Visa Application Procedure

A recommendation is that employees moving to Togo for employment purposes apply for a work visa before arriving in the country. The visa application procedure is as follows: Submitting a fully completed visa application form, together with all required documentation.

VAT is charged at a regular rate of 18%.

Businesses that provide specific services, such as financial, insurance, medical, and transportation services, are free from VAT.

Termination Process

The fixed-term contract expires at the end of its term or when one of the parties ends it. The fixed-term contract can also be broken in the event of force majeure, written consent of the parties, serious error, or judicial settlement. The Professional employment organization contract may be ended by one of the parties at any time, provided that the person initiating the termination gives notice.

The Collective Agreement provides the following minimum notice period duration:

• One month for employees, workers, and similar;
• Supervisors, managers, and others: three months; and
• Five days for compensated employees per hour.

A 2011 collective agreement compels companies to offer severance compensation to employees with at least one year of continuous employment with the same employer of record in situations of dismissal for economic reasons.

The lump amount equal to 35% of the employee's average annual wage throughout the work term of one to five years; a lump sum equal to 40% with six to nine years; or a lump sum equal to 45% with ten or more years. The sum fluctuates depending on the number of years of continuous service.

Notice Period

The Collective Agreement mandates a one-month notice period for workers, employees, and the like; three months for supervisors, managers, and others; and five days for salaried workers per hour.

Severance Pay

A 2011 collective agreement compels companies to offer severance compensation to employees with at least one year of continuous employment with the same employer of Record in Togo in situations of dismissal for economic reasons.

The amount changes depending on the number of years of continuous service: 35% of the employee's average yearly wage throughout the work period with one to five years; 40% with six to nine years; or 45% with ten or more years.

Probation Period

The initial few months of work, known as the probationary phase, are effectively a trial period. Employers might examine their workers' professional competency throughout this period. Employees can also obtain a better grasp of their job, their roles and duties, as well as the workplace social dynamics.

In Togo, the usual probation term might last up to 6 months. However, according to the collective bargaining agreement, the probation period varies depending on the terms of PEO, as follows:

• When workers are paid monthly, the probation period is as follows:

• Regular employees: one month (renewable once).
• For managerial and technical roles, the time frame is three months (renewable once).
• Six months for managers and above (non-renewable).

• When workers earn hourly earnings, the probation period is eight days (renewable once). Workers on probation must have at least the minimum salary, and the probationary term counts toward the overall length of employment for calculating annual leave.

• While contracts in Togo can have a cancellation without notice (by either the EOR or the employee), the Togolese labor law requires a notice time for termination or payment in place of the termination notice following the probationary period.

Paid Time Offs

The number of days with work in a given year affects how much yearly leave an employee has to receive a payment in Togo. Employees in Togo have the right to 20 to 24 days of yearly leave, depending on their schedule. The claim would be for 20 paid vacation days for a 5-day workweek and 24 paid vacation days for a 6-day workweek.

Workers must receive a payment on 12 statutory national holidays. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday or a day when the employee does not ordinarily work, the employer of Record in Togo must give a substitute rest day.

Public Holidays

There are 12 national holidays throughout the year.

Vacation Holidays

There are 20 vacation holidays throughout the year.

Sick Days

A worker must have 5 days of sick leave each year under the Labor Code. Nonetheless, sick leave clauses in collective agreements ensure that sick workers have a compensation for the first six months of sickness that causes absence from work. The following perks are dependent on the length of employment:

• If the service time is shorter than 12 months, one month of paid leave is granted.
• In case you have worked for more than 12 months but less than 5 years, you will get a full month's income plus a half-salary month's for the next three months.
• If you have worked for more than 5 years but less than 10 years, you will get a full wage for 2 months and a half salary for 4 months.
• For more than ten years of service - a full wage for four months. Also, half salary for two months.