Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Suriname
Capital
Paramaribo
Currency
Suriname Dollar
Languages
Dutch
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
GDP per Capita
$7,082.33
Employer Tax
No Contribution
Talent Overview
Suriname is a natural-resource rich country in South America with a GDP of USD 2.86 billion. The mining industry in the country contributes to almost half the public sector’s revenue, while gold formulates for more than 80 percent of the exports. Suriname’s economy is susceptible to global shocks; however, it has been able to stabilise its growth.
Major economic hubs:
Paramaribo, Lelydorp, Brokopondo
Skills in demand:
Teaching, Marine biologist
Local Universities
The top local universities in Suriname are as follows:
Salary Data
Some common jobs in Suriname with average monthly salaries are:
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (in SRD) | Average Monthly Salary (in USD) |
| Financial Manager | 10,500 SRD | USD 332.28 |
| General Manager | 9,110 SRD | USD 288.29 |
| Business Development Manager | 8,770 SRD | USD 277.53 |
| Financial Analyst | 6,990 SRD | USD 221.20 |
| Business Analyst | 6,880 SRD | USD 217.72 |
| Project Manager | 6,040 SRD | USD 191.14 |
Talent Sourcing Tips
93,100
The System of Labour Administration and 1858 Civil Code regulate the employment laws in Suriname. The sections below cover major aspects of the legislation which both employer and employee must follow.
According to the System of Labour Administration of Suriname, the employment contracts in the country must be published in a written format with formal acceptance by the candidate. All the working conditions in the contract must be in Dutch and submitted to the court registry for inspection.
The probation period in Suriname extend to a maximum of two months. However, probation is not mandatory and employers and employees must enter into such an arrangement unless it is absolutely necessary.
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year | Public Holiday |
| 22 Jan | Lunar New Year | Public Holiday |
| 25 Feb | Revolution Day | Public Holiday |
| 7 Mar | Holi Phagwa | Public Holiday |
| 7 Apr | Good Friday | Public Holiday |
| 10 Apr | Easter Monday | Public Holiday |
| 22 Apr | Eid al-Fitr (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 1 May | Labor Day | Public Holiday |
| 29 Jun | Eid al-Adha (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 1 Jul | Freedom Day | Public Holiday |
| 9 Aug | Indigenous Peoples Day | Public Holiday |
| 10 Oct | Day of the Maroons | Public Holiday |
| 12 Nov | Diwali | Public Holiday |
| 25 Nov | Independence Day | Public Holiday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | Public Holiday |
| 26 Dec | Boxing Day | Public Holiday |
| Type of Leave | Time Period | Mandatory |
| Annual leaves |
|
Yes |
| Sick leaves | 6 weeks | Yes |
| Maternity leaves | None | Yes |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
The payroll cycle in Suriname is monthly
Minimum Wage
The National Minimum Wage in Suriname is SRD 20 per hour.
Overtime Pay
The standard working hours in Suriname are 8.5 hours a day and 48 hours a week. Employers who want their staff to commit overtime must get an overtime license from the Labour Inspection.
Bonus
There is no mandatory 13th month pay in Suriname.
Taxes
There are no employer contributions towards payroll in Suriname.
| Contribution | Rate |
| Age-old insurance | 4% |
| Income slab | Rate |
| Up to SRD 2,646 | 0% |
| SRD 2,646 – SRD 14,002.80 | 8% |
| SRD 14,002.80 – SRD 21,919 | 18% |
| SRD 21,919 – SRD 32,839.80 | 28% |
| More than SRD 32,839.80 | 38% |
The Value Added Tax in Suriname is levied at a standard rate of 10%.
Offboarding & Termination
Employers can only terminate employment contracts on the specified date. Termination cannot occur without cause and there must be a justified reason. Furthermore, employees cannot be terminated due to inability to perform because of military service, legal directions or during paid leaves.
The notice period in Suriname is a maximum of six months. However, both employer and employees can have a written agreement for a shorter period.
As per the 1858 civil code, severance pay in Suriname is given as per the following table:
| Years of service | Severance pay |
| 0 – 4 years | 4 weeks |
| 5 – 9 years | 1 week/year of service |
| 10 – 15 years | 4 months |
| More than 15 years | 6 months |
Visa and Immigration
Professionals from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) can live and work in Suriname without any license. However, professionals in the gold mining industry need a Gold Sector Foreign nationals visa while the others need a Foreign Nationals visa.
Generally, foreigners require stay and work permits to live and work in Suriname. It is the employer’s responsibility to apply for the work visa on the employee’s behalf.
