Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Gabon
Capital
Libreville
Currency
Central African CFA Franc (XAF)
Languages
French, Fang
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
GDP per Capita
$ 6,641.53
Employer Tax
20.1%
Talent Overview
Gabon boasts its economy with significant foreign investments since they are heavily tied with the French economy. They rely on skilled foreign workers and are one of the biggest economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, with $1.72B of foreign investments making up 11.21% of the country’s GDP. Gabon is rich in natural resources such as timber, manganese, and oil. It is also Africa’s fifth biggest oil producer, accounting for 50% of Gabon’s total economy and 80% of its exports.
Major economic hubs:
Libreville
Skills in demand:
Mining Professionals, Engineering Professionals, ICT Professionals
Local Universities
The top local universities in Gabon are as follows:
Local: 1
World: 10,625
Local: 2
World: 11,142
Local: 3
World: 12,494
Local: 4
World: 12,618
Local: 5
World: 12,797
Salary Data
Some of the common jobs in Gabon with average monthly salary;
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (XAF) | Average Monthly Salary (USD) |
| General Manager | 922,000.00 | 1,503 |
| Information Technology Manager | 857,000.00 | 1,397 |
| Business Development Manager | 816,000.00 | 1,331 |
| Business Analyst | 643,000.00 | 1048 |
| Developer / Programmer | 532,000.00 | 867 |
| Database Administrator | 508,000.00 | 828 |
| Network Engineer | 442,000.00 | 720 |
Talent Sourcing Tips
Careers In Africa, Jobnet Africa, Job Artis
181, 400
Hiring in Gabon requires you to be aware of the local employment laws, benefits, payroll, and taxes. Below is everything you need to know on how to successfully onboard talents from Gabon.
Employment contracts in Gabon can be either written or oral. In practice, employers provide written contracts to employees in French stipulating working conditions and benefits available under the labor code.
The probationary period for new employees is up to six months in Gabon.
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year | Public Holiday |
| 9 Apr | Easter Sunday | Public Holiday |
| 10 Apr | Easter Monday | Public Holiday |
| 17 Apr | Women’s Rights Day | Public Holiday |
| 22 Apr | Eid al-Fitr (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Public Holiday |
| 18 May | Ascension Day | Public Holiday |
| 29 May | Whit Monday | Public Holiday |
| 29 Jun | Eid al-Adha (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 15 Aug | Assumption of Mary | Public Holiday |
| 16 Aug | Independence Day | Public Holiday |
| 17 Aug | Independence Day | Public Holiday |
| 1 Nov | All Saints’ Eve | Public Holiday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | Public Holiday |
| Type of leave | Time period | Mandatory |
| Annual leave/Earned Leave | 21 days | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 14 weeks | Yes |
| Sick Leave | 6 months | Yes |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
Workers in Gabon are paid monthly.
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Gabon is XAF 150,000 (USD 229.49) per month.
Overtime Pay
Overtime in Gabon is limited to 20 hours per week. The minimum overtime rate is 1.25x the normal wage but depends on the contract between the employer and employee.
Bonus
The 13th-month pay is not mandatory in Gabon but it is a common practice employers use to compensate their employees.
Taxes
| Classification | Employer Contribution Rate (%) |
| Family Allowances | 8 |
| Retirement Insurance | 5 |
| Work Injury | 3 |
| Health Sanitary Evacuations | 0.6 |
| Medicines’ Distribution | 2 |
| Hospitalisations | 1.5 |
| Classification | Employee Contribution Rate (%) |
| CNSS Retirement Insurance | 2.5 |
| National Disease Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund (CNAMGS) | 1 |
Employee income determination in Gabon is determined by the annual salary deducted by a 20% allowance divided by the family quotient.
Q = [(S x 12) – A] / P (as Q is annual)
P = Family quotient (number of shares).
S = Monthly taxable gross income.
A = 20% allowance.
The family quotient depends on the number of dependents the employee has, which is determined by the number of shares as explained below.
| Family status | Number of shares |
(without dependent child) |
1 |
|
2 |
|
2.5 |
|
3 |
|
3.5 |
|
0.5 |
The tax is determined according the table below:
| Part of the taxable revenue for 1 share (Q) | Rate of tax |
| 0 – 1,500,000 | 0 |
| 1,500,001 – 1,920,000 | 5% x Q – 75,000 |
| 1,920,001 – 2,700,000 | 10% x Q – 171,000 |
| 2,700,001 – 3,600,000 | 15% x Q – 306,000 |
| 3,600,001 – 5,160,000 | 20% x Q – 486,000 |
| 5,160,001 – 7,500,000 | 25% x Q – 744,000 |
| 7,500,001 – 11,000,000 | 30% x Q – 1,119,000 |
| 11,000,001 and above | 35% x Q – 1,669,000 |
Standard VAT in Gabon is 18%.
Offboarding & Termination
Termination in Gabon requires a notice period when an employee is terminated during the contract by fault of the employee except for gross negligence. There are certain cases where the notice period can be waived, excluding serious misconduct.
The notice period for termination depends on the seniority of the employee in the organization.
Employees who have at least 2 years of service in the company are entitled to as severance pay for termination or resignation. The severance pay in Gabon is 20% of the average monthly salary of the last 1 year in service to the same organization.
Visa and Immigration
Applying for a visa in Gabon is required and can be processed online (e-Visa). You can submit the required document form and a passport with at least 6 months of validity. The application is 72 hours in so you cannot travel to Gabon without a processed visa. E visas are granted from 1-3 months with a single entry to 6 with multiple entries. Payment for the e-Visa is upon delivery of the e-Visa sticker.
