Expand your global workforce in Eritrea

Your guide to the employment landscape, working customs and local labor laws in Eritrea

Capital

Asmara

Currency

Eritrean Nakfa (ERN)

Languages

Tigrinya

GDP per Capita

$702.40

Employer Tax

None

Payroll Frequency

Monthly

Talent overview

A Horn-of-African country, Eritrea, grew its economy at 3.9% annual rate in the past decade. The mines, particularly gold, silver, zinc, copper, and potash, played a significant part in supporting the growth. In addition to its natural resources, about 70% of the population earns their livelihood from agriculture. Eritrea has an economic freedom score of 39.7, thus making it the 171st freest.

Major economic hubs:

Asmara, Keren, Teseney

Skills in demand:

Agriculture, Beverage industry, Cement industry, textiles and food processing industry

Top local universities in Eritrea

Mai Nefhi College of Engineering and Technology

Ranking:

Local: 1

World: 10118

Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences

Ranking:

Local: 2

World: 10723

College of Business and Social Sciences

Ranking:

Local: 3

World: 14091

National Medicines and Food Administration, Eritrea

Ranking:

Local: 4

World: 14170

Asmara College of Education

Ranking:

Local: 5

World: 15399

Top Local Job Boards:

Careersinafrica

Number of LinkedIn users:

10,970

Top Recruitment Agencies:

Airswift

Where to find talent

Top Local Job Boards:

Top Local Job Boards

Number of LinkedIn users:

Number of LinkedIn users

Top Recruitment Agencies:

Salary Data

Some of the popular jobs and their respective monthly salary are discussed here:

Job Title	Average Monthly Salary (ERN)	Average Monthly Salary (USD)
Accountant	4670	311.33
Financial analyst	8680	578.66
Office manager	5750	383.33
Secretary	2880	192
Business Analyst	8520	568

Employ in Eritrea

Employing in Eritrea

The employment in Eritrea is governed by the Labour Proclamation of Eritrea (No. 118 of 2001) and International labor convention rules. Read more to understand better the regulations and working conditions prevailing in the country.

Employee Contract:

It is not mandatory to follow a written contract, but it is recommended to have a written employment contract in the Tigrinya language.

Probation period:

Eritrea follows a probationary period of up to six months.

Public and Provincial Holidays 2023

Date	Name	Type
1 Jan	New Year	Public Holiday
7 Jan	Orthodox Christmas Day	Public Holiday
19 Jan	Timket	Public Holiday
8 Mar	Women’s Day	Public Holiday
14 Apr	Coptic Good Friday	Public Holiday
16 Apr	Coptic Easter	Public Holiday
22 Apr	Eid al-Fitr (Tentative Date)	Public Holiday
1 May	International Workers’ Day	Public Holiday
24 May	Independence Day	Public Holiday
20 Jun	Martyrs’ Day	Public Holiday
29 Jun	Eid al-Adha (Tentative Date)	Public Holiday
1 Sep	Commencement Day of Eritrean Armed Struggle	Public Holiday
12 Sep	Geez New Year	Public Holiday
27 Sep	The Prophet’s Birthday (Tentative Date)	Public Holiday
27 Sep	Meskel	Public Holiday
25 Dec	Christmas Day	Public Holiday

Employee Leaves

Type of Leave	TimePeriod	Mandatory
Annual Leave	14 days (increasing with 1 day with each year of service up to 35 days)	Yes
Sick Leave	Up to 6 months	Yes
Maternity Leave	14 weeks	Yes

Leave Compliance

Payroll in Eritrea

Payroll cycle

The country follows a monthly payroll cycle.

Minimum wage

Eritrea does not have a country-wide minimum wage. However, the minimum pay in the public sector is 360 ERN.

Overtime pay

The standard working hours in Eritrea are 8 hours daily and 48 hours weekly. As per the Labour Proclamation, employees are permitted overtime work for a maximum of 2 hours.

How taxes work

Employer Payroll Tax:

There are no employer payroll taxes in Eritrea.

Employee Payroll Tax:

There are no employer payroll taxes in Eritrea.

Employee Income Tax:

In Eritrea, there is 2% flat income tax rate on annual taxable income.

VAT:

Eritrea follows GST and ranges between 5% and 12%.

Bonus

13th Month Pay:

There is no statutory law for 13th month pay in Eritrea

Employee Benefits:

Maternity benefits
Paid vacation time

Employee offboarding

Termination process

The common grounds for termination include:

Mutual agreement between the parties
Expiration of employment contract
On the grounds of providing false information to the employer
Death of employee

Notice period

The notice period followed in Eritrea ranges from 3 days to 7 days.

Severance pay

An employee who has completed a year of service shall be entitled to the following severance pay:

Two weeks’ wage for each of the first five years of service
Three weeks’ wage for each year from the fifth to the tenth year
Four weeks’ wage for each year after the 10th year.

Visa and
immigration

The application is filed directly to the Eritrean Immigration Office in Asmara by the employer. The documents needed include:

Visa form B62
Passport and photo
Evidence of visa fee payment
Expected date of arrival in Eritrea

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Time of overtime work	Overtime pay
6 AM – 10 PM	125% of the regular pay
10 PM – 6 PM	150% of the regular pay
Weekends	200% of the regular pay
Public holidays	250% of the regular pay

Expand your global workforce in Eritrea

Talent overview

Agriculture, Beverage industry, Cement industry, textiles and food processing industry

Top local universities in Eritrea

Mai Nefhi College of Engineering and Technology

Ranking:

Orotta College of Medicine and Health Sciences

Ranking:

College of Business and Social Sciences

Ranking:

National Medicines and Food Administration, Eritrea

Ranking:

Asmara College of Education

Ranking:

Top Local Job Boards:

Number of LinkedIn users:

Top Recruitment Agencies:

Where to find talent

Salary Data

Employ in Eritrea

Employing in Eritrea

Employee Contract:

Probation period:

Public and Provincial Holidays 2023

Employee Leaves

Payroll in Eritrea

The country follows a monthly payroll cycle.

Eritrea does not have a country-wide minimum wage. However, the minimum pay in the public sector is 360 ERN.

The standard working hours in Eritrea are 8 hours daily and 48 hours weekly. As per the Labour Proclamation, employees are permitted overtime work for a maximum of 2 hours.

How taxes work

Employer Payroll Tax:

Employee Payroll Tax:

Employee Income Tax:

VAT:

Bonus

13th Month Pay:

Employee Benefits:

Employee offboarding

Visa and immigration

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Visa and
immigration

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150+ countries