The success of any company lies in the strength and dedication of its team. When expanding to Benin, you’ll need to recruit and hire employees you can trust to build your company, but you’ll also need to stay compliant throughout the hiring process. It can be difficult to find the time to hire and learn Benin’s employment laws while also running your business.
Recruiting in Benin
The hiring process often depends on whether you want to hire full-time employees or contractors. Although Benin is primarily a French-speaking nation, people speak local languages, which can make communication a challenge. Always ask someone about their preferred language before interviewing them, so you can have a translator available if needed.
The best places to advertise your open roles are local and national newspapers such as “L’Autre Quotidien” and “La Nation.” Job sites including Career Jet, Overseas Jobs, Go Abroad, and LinkedIn are also great places to find skilled professionals.
Keep in mind that if you hire international workers, they’ll need a valid work permit. Every nation has different application requirements, so it’s best to contact a local embassy for more information.
Laws against discrimination in Benin
Hiring compliantly in Benin also requires you to abide by the country’s laws against discrimination. In 2006, the nation adopted the Act on the Suppression of Sexual Harassment and Protection of Victims. Anyone found guilty faces imprisonment of 1 to 2 years or a hefty fine. Any accomplices will have the same sentence. Companies should enforce all laws related to sexual harassment to stay compliant and keep employees safe.
How to hire employees in Benin
Although Benin does not require a written employment contract for all workers, we recommend drafting one for all new hires. Fixed-term contracts must be in writing and are allowed for up to 2 years and can be renewed once.
All employment contracts should be in the local language and include information about benefits, compensation, termination and entitlement terms, working hours, and more. In addition, all offer letters and employment contracts should include salary and compensation amounts in West African CFA francs instead of any other currency.
Benin employment laws
Benin’s employment compliance laws cover typical working hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Usually, employees work 40 hours a week and should not exceed 60 hours a week.
Employees can work a maximum of 240 hours of overtime each year but should get 112% of their normal hourly rate for hours 41–48 during the week. Hours beyond this should get paid at 135% of the employee’s normal hourly rate.
These rates increase for overtime worked during the night, on Sundays, or during holidays.
Onboarding in Benin
Since employment contracts lay out all the specifics of the agreement between you and the employee, we recommend reviewing that contract during the employee’s first day. You should also create a training program that will prepare employees for their positions and their future with your company.
Grow globally with G-P.
G-P never forgets that behind every hire is a human being. That’s why we’ve backed our fully customizable suite of global employment products with our robust team of HR and legal experts, so we can remain at your side, ready to support you as you build your global teams. With the #1 global employment platform, you have the recruitment tools and services you need to find your perfect full-time or contract match.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you recruit, hire, and onboard anyone, anywhere.