* Playroll continues to analyse immediate opportunities and fulfilled roles by recruitment partners, contractors and employers to identify in-demand jobs.

Capital City
Freetown
Currency

Sierra Leonean leone (Le)

Timezone

UTC (GMT +0)

Payroll
monthly
Employment Cost

10%

Annual Leave

19 days

In-demand Specialties*
Healthcare, Information And Communication Technology, Education

The Ultimate Guide to Hiring Employees in Sierra Leone

Simplify hiring employees in by partnering with Playroll. Our Employer of Record (EOR) handles hiring, onboarding, payroll, taxes, immigration, benefits administration, and compliance. While you maintain control of day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

hiring-in-Sierra Leone-guide

Key Considerations Before Hiring In Sierra Leone

Employing in Sierra Leone requires employers to own a legal entity in the country and manage payroll, tax, benefits and compliance through their own in-country resources. Grow your team in Sierra Leone with our Employer of Record solution, ensuring streamlined, compliant business expansion with no entity.

Playroll allows you to hire employee's in Sierra Leone quickly, easily and we even automate tax document collection, benefits, payroll and more.

Good To Know

Hiring in Sierra Leone offers access to a pool of motivated and skilled workers eager to contribute to business growth.

The country's strategic location along the West African coast provides opportunities for trade and investment.

Despite challenges, such as infrastructure development, investing in Sierra Leone can yield long-term benefits due to its abundant natural resources and potential for economic expansion.

Additionally, hiring in Sierra Leone can contribute to local employment and socioeconomic development, fostering stability and prosperity in the region.

playroll-good-to-know

Fundamental Aspects of Employment in Sierra Leone

When hiring in Sierra Leone, employers need to blend legal compliance, cultural awareness, and adaptability to foster a conducive and compliant work environment. It's essential to provide a signed employment contract detailing:

  • Identification of both parties
  • Commencement date
  • Job duties and description
  • The employee's wage and overtime rate

Probationary Period in Sierra Leone

Probation periods in Sierra Leone can last up to six months, determined by employment contracts or collective agreements.

Working hours in Sierra Leone

The standard workweek in Sierra Leone typically consists of 40 hours, with employees working 8 hours per day for 5 days.

Overtime in Sierra Leone

Any work exceeding the standard 8-hour daily limit in Sierra Leone is considered overtime and is compensated at an extra rate of 50%. Moreover, work conducted on designated rest days incurs additional compensation of 100%.

Navigating Key Aspects of Payroll in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has a robust and complex payroll and tax system, and as an employer, it pays to understand payroll process basics.

January 1st to December 31st

Fiscal Year in Sierra Leone

January 1st to December 31st is the 12-month accounting period that businesses in Sierra Leone use for financial and tax reporting purposes.
monthly

Payroll Cycle in Sierra Leone

The payroll cycle in Sierra Leone is usually monthly, with employees being paid by the end of the month.
5 SLL p/h

Minimum Wage in Sierra Leone

The minimum wage for employees in Sierra Leone is typically 5 SLL per hour, amounting to ~800 SLL per month for a typical 40 hour work week.

Minimum wages and salaries in Sierra Leone

In April 2023, Sierra Leone increased their minimum wage to 800 leones per month.

Bonus Payments in Sierra Leone

There is no legal provision for a 13th-month salary in Sierra Leone

Comprehensive Overview of Employment Taxes in Sierra Leone

Understanding the tax obligations for both employers and employees is crucial when operating in Sierra Leone's business landscape. This section explains how taxes and statutory fees affect payroll and individual earnings in Sierra Leone.

Employer Tax Contributions

Employer payroll contributions are generally estimated at an additional 10% on top of the employee salary in Sierra Leone.

Tax Rate Tax Type

Employee Payroll Tax Contributions

In Sierra Leone, the typical estimation for employee payroll contributions cost is around 5%.

Tax Rate Tax Type

Individual Payroll Tax Contributions

In Sierra Leone, income tax is progressive, ranging from 0% to 30%. It is calculated based on progressive rates corresponding to varying income levels per annum.

Tax Rate Income Bracket

Pension in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone's pension system encompasses mandatory contributions managed by entities such as NASSIT, offering retirement benefits based on individuals' contributions and eligibility upon reaching retirement age. Additionally, there are voluntary pension schemes available for those seeking to supplement their retirement savings.

The tax-related information provided in this guide is intended for general guidance and informational purposes only. Reach out to our dedicated team for insights on remote hiring in Sierra Leone tailored to your needs.

Easily navigate payroll, taxes and contributions with Playroll.

Grow your distributed workforce today!

Understanding the Protocols for Termination of Employment in Sierra Leone

When it comes to terminating employment in Sierra Leone, understanding the legal obligations regarding severance pay and contributions is essential. Below is a detailed overview of the key considerations for both employers and employees.

Termination Process

In Sierra Leone, employees may be terminated for valid reasons, with dismissal possible after two written warnings, often without compensation. Grounds for termination may include:

  • Misconduct or inappropriate behaviour
  • Inadequate suitability for the job position.
  • Redundancy

Notice Period

In Sierra Leone, notice periods for employment termination vary based on the length of service and terms in the contract, usually ranging from one to three months.

Severance Pay

Severance payments are not required by law in Sierra Leone, unless the termination is due to redundancy. Severance pay for redundancy is determined by the employee's tenure:

  • Workers with 1 year of tenure receive 8.4 weeks' salary.
  • Workers with 5 years of tenure receive 47 weeks' salary.
  • Workers with 10 years of tenure receive 132 weeks' salary.

Annual Leave Entitlements and Company Policies in Sierra Leone

The annual leave entitlement in Sierra Leone is 19 days for a full time worker. These can include public holidays on top of that or within those days, which would otherwise be unpaid.

Public Holidays in Sierra Leone

Public holidays in Sierra Leone typically include:

Holiday Date

Paid Time Off in Sierra Leone

Maternity Leave in Sierra Leone

Paternity Leave in Sierra Leone

Sick Leave in Sierra Leone

Parental Leave In Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone's Benefits Built Into Playroll

Competitive benefits package in Sierra Leone

Playroll is committed to providing tailored, competitive benefits packages that are designed not only to attract but also retain top talent worldwide. Our global team of benefits experts build custom local packages to ensure your employees in Sierra Leone's needs are met. Typically our packages contain some or all of the following benefits.

Health Insurance
Pension or 401k
Life and Disability Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Discounts & Perks

Playroll Supplementary Benefits For Employment In Sierra Leone

Make your benefits package in Sierra Leone a talent magnet with Playroll's local plans. We offer benefits that are compliant, comprehensive, and flexible — all at competitive rates. Speak with our local territory experts to explore the localized benefits we can offer you, while you scale your team.

Statutory benefits for employment in Sierra Leone

Through monthly contributions to NASSIT, employees receive financial security benefits through their entitlement to the following provisions:

  • Old Age benefits
  • Invalidity benefits
  • Survivors' benefits
  • Emigration benefits

Playroll allows you to provide localized benefits for employees in Sierra Leone within minutes. All in one manageable online dashboard. If you'd like specific information about our benefits packages in Sierra Leone create an account or contact our global expansion team, today.

Playroll Benefit Services

Playroll's Expertise in Facilitating Work Visas for Sierra Leone

At Playroll we're all about empowering employees to work anywhere, making mobility possible for global teams. We sponsor visas and hire the employee for you, so you don’t have to worry about payroll, taxes, and more.

It's important to note, visa support can be complicated. There are many variables that affect whether sponsorship is possible, including one’s nationality, education, marital status, and the immigration policy for the country in question.

Unfortunately, this means we can’t support visas everywhere - with that being said, we handle the entire visa process in-house, and dig into your situation to give you an overview of what to expect if we're able to help with visa sponsorship in Sierra Leone.

Playroll Immigration Support

Integrated EOR Platform

Legal and compliance experts are readily available to provide guidance and case-by-case Q&A support.

Accelerated Immigration Timeline

By leveraging dedicated support from in-house legal and compliance experts for case by case questions and more.

Hire in 50+ Countries

Accelerated Immigration Timeline

Acquiring a visa without an entity has never been easier, leverage Playroll's global coverage to sponsor and hire employees.

Playroll Visa Services

Hiring International Employees is Complex.

Playroll makes it easy!