Employment and labor laws vary from country to country. This guide is intended to provide the most up to date information available. We will update this guide as needed when changes are made to the laws.
Employment Contracts
Employers are legally required to provide formal written contracts for all employees that include salary/wage, termination terms, job title, etc. The contracts must be written in French/English and use the West African CFA Franc (XOF).
Working Hours
The standard workweek in Niger consists of 40 hours, however, there are some exceptions that allow additional hours due to the nature of the job role, e.g., farm workers who are entitled to 2400 hours per year.
Overtime
All work exceeding the standard working hours a week is to be paid as overtime and is regulated by the National Minimum Wage Act.
Overtime is paid at the following rates: 110% of the regular hourly salary rate for the first 8 hours, increasing to 135% of the regular hourly salary rate thereafter.
Working Week
Monday-Friday
Public Holidays
There are 13 National Holidays in Niger in 2022.
- Jan 1: New Year’s Day
- Apr 18: Easter Monday
- Apr 24: Concord Day
- Apr 29: Laylat al-Qadr
- May 1: Labor Day
- May 2: Korité
- Jul 9: Tabaski
- Jul 10: Tabaski Holiday
- Jun 30: Islamic New Year
- Aug 3: Independence Day
- Oct 8: Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
- Dec 18: Republic Day
- Dec 25: Christmas Day
Paid Time Off
Employees are entitled 30 days of paid annual leave. The annual leave increases with the length of service as follows:
- After 20 years of service, they are entitled to an additional two days’ leave
- After 25 years of service, they are entitled to an additional four days’ leave
- After 30 years of service, they are entitled to an additional six days’ leave
Sick Leave
An employee is entitled to five days of 100% paid sickness absence per year.
Maternity Leave
Female employees are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave in Niger, with the requirement to take six weeks before the due date and eight weeks after the birth. Maternity confirmation certificates must be provided before any maternity leave can commence.
Paternity Leave
In Niger, a father is entitled to one day of paid paternity in one calendar year.
Other Leave
There are no provisions in the law regarding other types of leave.
Employee Severance and Terminations
Termination Process
Employers can terminate a fix term contract by giving the following reasons – business, personal, or employee misconduct. It requires notice and a written explanation for the termination.
Notice Period
The minimum statutory notice period is determined within the job role and respective collective agreement. General notice periods range from eight days’ notice period for employees on hourly or weekly paid contracts to a minimum of one month for monthly paid employees, increasing to three months for senior management roles.
Probation Period
In Niger, probationary periods are generally three months.
Severence Pay
An employee is entitled to severance pay (linked to the length of service) as long as they have worked continuously for at least one year with the employer.
Payroll Cycle
The typical payroll cycle in Niger is on a monthly basis, however weekly and hourly cycles are also common.
13th Salary
There is no statutory requirement to provide a 13th salary.
Employee Income Tax
VISA
In accordance with Niger’s immigration legislation, employment by a local entity is a prerequisite for applying for a work permit, as there is no restriction on the number of foreign employees that a company may employ. Foreigners working in Nigeria are subject to immigration approvals, controls, permissions and permits.
VAT
The standard rate of VAT in Niger is 19%.