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Hiring in Togo means complying with the 2021 Labour Code (Law 2021-012) and the Interprofessional Collective Agreement, which set strict rules on contracts, overtime, notice, and severance. Since January 2024, employers also fund the new universal health insurance (AMU) on top of CNSS social security, bringing employer costs to 22.5% of gross pay. This guide breaks down what compliant hiring in Togo actually costs and how to get it right.
You can hire full-time employees in Togo without setting up a local entity - an Employer of Record becomes the legal employer on your behalf, handling contracts, payroll, and compliance under Togo's Labour Code. It's the fastest legal route to hire here, with onboarding in as little as a few days.
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Currency
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Payroll Frequency
Tax Year
Employer Tax
Languages
Working Hours
Public Holidays
Is Togo Right For Your Hiring Plans?
Togo offers a young, French-speaking talent pool of roughly 9 million people and a steadily growing economy, with GDP growth around 5-6% in recent years. Agriculture and phosphate mining anchor the economy, but the Port of Lomé - West Africa's only natural deep-water port and a leading container hub - plus a growing free trade zone are driving demand for logistics, trade, and services talent.
The trade-offs: salaries are low by global standards, with a 52,500 FCFA monthly minimum wage, but employer on-costs add 22.5% on top of gross pay across CNSS and AMU health insurance. Compliance is formal and French-language, with collective-agreement overtime scales and severance that grows with tenure. An EOR removes most of that administrative burden for foreign employers.
What Are My Options For Hiring In Togo?
Option 1: Use an Employer of Record (EOR)
An Employer of Record lets you hire in Togo without incorporating. The EOR becomes the legal employer: it issues compliant French-language contracts, registers employees with the CNSS and the AMU health insurance scheme, withholds income tax for the OTR, and remits all employer contributions on your behalf. You direct the employee's day-to-day work while the EOR carries the compliance risk - the fastest and lowest-risk route for testing the Togolese market or hiring a small team.
Option 2: Set up a local entity
Setting up a local entity in Togo runs through the Centre de Formalités des Entreprises (CFE) one-stop shop in Lomé, where an SARL can be registered online in as little as 24-48 hours thanks to recent digitalisation reforms. The catch is what comes after incorporation: you still need a corporate bank account, tax registration with the Office Togolais des Recettes (OTR), and employer registration with the CNSS before you can legally run payroll. Budget several weeks for full operational readiness, plus ongoing French-language accounting and filing obligations.
Option 3: Hire independent contractors
Engaging independent contractors in Togo can work for genuinely project-based roles, but misclassification is a real risk: if a contractor works under your direction, on your schedule, with your tools, Togolese labour courts can requalify the relationship as employment - triggering back payment of CNSS contributions, paid leave, notice, and severance. A compliant hiring contractors solution helps you draft proper service agreements, verify contractor status, and pay in XOF without triggering employment obligations. A contractor management solution helps you stay compliant when engaging independent workers.
Understanding Labour Laws & Employment Contracts In Togo
Employment Contracts
Togo's Labour Code (Law No. 2021-012 of 18 June 2021) permits both indefinite and fixed-term contracts, but fixed-term agreements are only allowed for precise, temporary tasks such as replacing an absent worker, and must be in writing. Contracts should be drafted in French, the official language, with salaries in West African CFA francs (XOF). The compliance risk employers miss most: using fixed-term contracts for permanent roles, which courts can requalify as indefinite contracts with full notice and severance rights.
Working Hours & Overtime
The statutory work week in Togo is 40 hours under Article 180 of the Labour Code, typically eight hours a day across five days, with agriculture capped at 2,400 hours per year. Overtime is paid under the Interprofessional Collective Agreement at +20% for the 41st to 48th hour, +40% beyond 48 hours, +65% on Sundays and public holidays, and up to +100% for night work on those days. The risk employers miss: these premiums are binding minimums that apply automatically - informal arrangements without the correct uplifts create back-pay liability.
Probation Periods
Probation in Togo is capped by category under Article 44 of the Labour Code: one month renewable once for workers and employees, three months renewable once for supervisors and technicians, and six months non-renewable for executives. Either party can end probation at any time without cause or indemnity, subject to 48 hours' notice. Once probation lapses without a written renewal, the employee gains full protection - including statutory notice and severance rights - so diarise the renewal date carefully.
Onboarding Timeline
Onboarding a new hire in Togo typically takes one to three weeks with an existing entity: the employer must register the employee with the CNSS, enrol them in the AMU health insurance scheme, set up income tax withholding with the OTR, and issue a compliant French-language contract before the start date. Work permits for non-nationals are the most common cause of delay, adding several extra weeks. With Playroll's in-country infrastructure already in place, compliant onboarding takes as little as 1-5 working days.
Current Payroll & Employer Tax Contributions In Togo
Employers in Togo fund three branches of the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS) under the Social Security Code (Law No. 2011-006): old-age pensions, family and maternity benefits, and work injury insurance. Since January 2024 they also pay the employer half of the Assurance Maladie Universelle (AMU) health contribution under Decree No. 2023-096/PR, and must withhold employees' progressive income tax (IRPP) for the Office Togolais des Recettes.
Compliance is deadline-driven: CNSS and AMU contributions are declared and remitted monthly, and late or inaccurate filings attract penalties and interest. For a foreign employer, that means calculating contributions on the full remuneration base - including bonuses and benefits in kind - tracking rate changes set by decree, and keeping French-language payroll records that stand up to CNSS and OTR inspections.
Employer Contributions
| Contribution Type | Contribution % |
|---|---|
| CNSS Old-Age Pension | 12.5% |
| CNSS Family & Maternity Benefits | 3.0% |
| CNSS Work Injury Insurance | 2.0% |
| AMU Universal Health Insurance (employer share) | 5.0% |
| Total Employer Contributions | 22.5% |
13th Salary
There is no statutory 13th-month salary in Togo - neither the Labour Code (Law No. 2021-012) nor the Interprofessional Collective Agreement mandates one. The collective agreement instead provides a seniority premium (prime d'ancienneté) added to base pay, and some employers offer a discretionary year-end bonus, but it remains a voluntary benefit rather than a legal obligation.
See how Playroll runs payroll in TogoMinimum Wage & Average Salaries In Togo
National Minimum Wage
As of 1 January 2023, the national minimum wage in Togo is set at F CFA52,500 per month, which is approximately USD 87.50. This rate is established under the Labour Code 2006 and was last increased from F CFA35,000 due to a cost-of-living review. The Ministry of Labour and Social Dialogue oversees these adjustments.
Average Salaries in Togo
In early 2026, the average gross monthly salary in Togo is around XOF 120,000–135,000 (roughly USD 190–215), which serves as a practical benchmark as you budget for your team. Actual pay varies significantly by experience, qualifications, and sector, with higher salaries typically found in information technology, finance and banking, and energy or utilities.Benchmark fair, market-rate salaries for your Togo rolesLeave Entitlements & Employee Benefits In Togo
Annual Leave in Detail
Employees in Togo earn 30 working days of paid annual leave per year, accruing at two and a half working days per month of effective service under Article 200 of the Labour Code (Law No. 2021-012). The right to take leave vests after one year of service, though a reduced entitlement can be taken after six months with the employer's consent. Leave can be carried over for up to two years by mutual agreement, and accrued, untaken leave must be paid out on termination.
Common Employee Benefits
Supplemental Health Cover: - Widely offered- Transport Allowance: - Common practice
- Housing Allowance: - Senior roles
- Paid annual leave - Statutory entitlement of 30 days.
- Public holidays - Statutory entitlement of 12 days.
- Maternity leave - Statutory entitlement of 98 days.
Work Permits & Visas In Togo
In Togo, foreign nationals who wish to work legally typically need both the appropriate entry visa (such as a long-stay visa or visa de long séjour) and an authorization to work, often referred to as a work permit or autorisation de travail, issued under the oversight of the Ministry of Labor and related immigration authorities. Employers must sponsor most medium- and long-term work arrangements, demonstrating the need for a foreign hire and ensuring that the role and salary comply with local labor standards.
Short-term business visits are usually covered by a business visa (visa d’affaires), while longer assignments may require a residence permit (carte de séjour) linked to employment. Processing times and exact documentation can vary depending on the applicant’s nationality, the sector of employment, and whether all supporting documents are complete and properly legalized, so companies should build in extra time and work closely with local counsel or a trusted in-country partner.
Common Visa Types
| Visa Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Tourist Visa | For individuals visiting Togo for tourism or non-business-related purposes; valid up to 90 days. |
| Business Visa | For foreigners entering Togo for business activities; valid up to 90 days. |
| Transit Visa | For travelers passing through Togo to another destination; short-term validity. |
| Immigration Visa | For individuals intending to reside and work in Togo long-term; requires additional permits. |
Termination & Severance In Togo
Notice Periods
Article 74 of Togo's 2021 Labour Code sets notice by category. Hourly-paid workers get 15 days, ouvriers and employees get one month, and agents de maîtrise, technicians and cadres get three months. Collective agreements can be more generous. Article 83 lets you release the worker from all or part of the notice and pay an indemnité compensatrice covering the unworked period instead. During the trial period, 48 hours' notice from either side is enough.
Severance Policies
Article 97 gives severance to anyone on an indefinite contract you dismiss with at least 12 unbroken months of service. It's calculated on average gross monthly pay over the previous year: 35% per year for the first five years, 40% for years six to ten, and 45% for every year after. Serious misconduct cancels it. Economic dismissals add at least a month's tax-free gross salary plus 24 months' rehiring priority. During maternity leave and certified illness, contracts are suspended rather than ended.
Do I need to set up a legal entity to hire employees in Togo?
You have three options: set up a local entity, use an Employer of Record, or engage contractors. Incorporating through Togo's CFE one-stop shop is fast, but you still need CNSS, AMU, tax, and banking setup before running compliant payroll. An EOR hires on your behalf under Togo's Labour Code, typically onboarding in days rather than weeks. Contractors suit short, independent projects, but misclassification can trigger back payment of social contributions and severance.
How long does it take to hire and onboard an employee in Togo?
Togo's national minimum wage (SMIG) is 52,500 FCFA per month, or 302.89 FCFA per hour, in force since 1 January 2023 when the government raised it 50% from 35,000 FCFA. No further increase has been announced for 2026. The SMIG applies nationwide across all branches of economic activity in the private sector, and the Interprofessional Collective Agreement sets higher category-based salary scales above this floor.
How much does it cost to hire an employee in Togo?
Budget the gross salary plus 22.5% in employer contributions: 17.5% to the CNSS for pensions, family benefits, and work injury cover, plus 5% for the AMU universal health insurance. Hiring through an EOR replaces entity setup and local payroll overhead with a predictable per-employee monthly fee, while running your own entity adds incorporation, accounting, and French-language compliance costs on top.
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