Employer of Record in Gabon

Hiring independent contractors has boomed in popularity because of the cost savings and flexibility they offer. It can be a great option if you require niche skills or short-term project support. Contractors allow businesses to access specialized skills quickly, without the time and cost of setting up a local entity.

However, it’s important to know the limits of this model: contractors are not a substitute for full-time employees. Relying on them for ongoing, long-term roles can create serious compliance risks, including employee misclassification, which can lead to fines, back taxes, and reputational damage.

Playroll’s contractor management solutions make it simple to compliantly engage, onboard, and pay contractors around the world. We provide clear visibility into agreements, streamline payments, and reduce compliance risks – so you can focus on getting the work done. And when you’re ready to take the next step, we can help seamlessly convert contractors into full-time employees through our global Employer of Record service.

Businesses can only operate smoothly in Gabon if they comply with local labor laws including drafting compliant employment contract agreements and meeting taxation and payroll obligations. Learn more about the employment laws and regulations in Gabon below, to avoid any compliance issues.

Employment Contract Requirements

In Gabon, employment compliance laws require employers to provide verbal or written contracts, either fixed-term (up to 2 years, renewable once) or indefinite. Contracts must detail compensation, benefits, termination terms, etc., and must use Central African CFA francs for salary and compensation amounts

Onboarding Process

We can help you get a new employee started in Gabon quickly, with a minimum onboarding time of just 1-2 working days. The timeline starts once the employee submits all required information onto the Playroll platform and completes any necessary local authority registrations. For non-nationals, the Right to Work assessment (if applicable) may add up to three extra days. Additional time may be needed for follow-ups on this assessment. Please note, payroll cut-off dates can impact the actual start date. Playroll's payroll cut-off date is the 10th of each month unless otherwise specified.

Working Hours in Gabon

In Gabon, the standard workday consists of 8 hours, and the workweek spans 5 days.

Overtime in Gabon

In Gabon, overtime is capped at a maximum of 20 hours per week and is permissible only in cases of exceptional, urgent, or seasonal work due to extraordinary workload, the necessity of maintaining or increasing production, or a shortage of staff.

Probation Period in Gabon

There are no laws in Gabon specifying probationary periods, but are commonly limited to a maximum duration of 6 months.

Setting up a local legal entity in Gabon can be time-consuming and expensive. It often involves complex paperwork, local representation, banking, registrations, and ongoing tax filings, which isn't cost-effective if you're simply looking to hire a few employees or test the market. An Employer of Record removes these barriers entirely. Instead of spending months establishing a presence, an EOR lets you hire and onboard employees within days while staying fully compliant.

This enables faster market entry and greater agility. Whether you’re launching a pilot program, supporting a regional client, or adding specialized talent, you don't need to commit to long-term infrastructure to explore new business opportunities. The EOR handles local employment logistics while you retain day-to-day oversight of your hires. This model lets you scale up or down based on business needs, giving you more flexibility with less overhead and risk.

Employers in Gabon must navigate a complex payroll tax system, including social security, health insurance, income tax, and the complementary tax on salaries.

Understanding and complying with these regulations is essential to avoid penalties and ensure smooth operations. Utilizing payroll management software like Playroll can help employers consolidate payroll data and stay compliant with Gabon's tax laws.

One of the biggest risks in global hiring is payroll mismanagement. In Gabon, even small errors in tax reporting or social contribution payments can trigger audits, fines, or reputational damage. For companies without in-country expertise, the risk isn’t worth taking. An Employer of Record removes this burden by owning the legal responsibility of payroll, executing every step with built-in compliance.

Key Ways an EOR Supports Payroll in Gabon:

• Mitigates Compliance Risk: Oversees all legal obligations for payroll, tax filings, and recordkeeping.
• Local Regulatory Expertise: Interprets and applies Gabon’s latest labor and tax changes in real time.
• Free Processing: Reduces mistakes in wage calculations and reporting through built
• Payroll Record Management: Maintains compliant payroll audit trails and documentation for each employee.

In Gabon, work permits and visas are essential for hiring foreign employees. The process involves obtaining a valid job offer, submitting applications through employers, and meeting requirements such as proof of qualifications, medical certificates, and police clearance. Key visa types include Temporary Work Visas, Long-Term Work Visas, Specialized Skill Work Permits, and Seasonal Worker Visas. Employers must act as sponsors, handle renewals, and ensure compliance with Gabonese labor laws.

Mandatory Leave Entitlement in Gabon

The annual leave entitlement in Gabon is 24 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 Gabon

There are 13 public holidays observed in Gabon:

Paid Time Off in Gabon

In general, employees in Gabon are entitled to 24 days of paid annual leave. This corresponds to 6.57% of annual income, calculated as 24 days out of 365 days.

Maternity Leave In Gabon

Pregnant employees in Gabon are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave; 6 weeks of leave taken before the birth and an additional 8 weeks after.

Paternity Leave In Gabon

Paternity leave in Gabon falls under family allowance leave, amounting to 3 days. Additionally, employees are eligible for 10 days of paid leave for family events.

Sick Leave In Gabon

Employees in Gabon are entitled to a maximum of 6 months of paid sick leave, amounting to 50% of their annual income. The pay for sick leave depends on the length of the workers employment:

• Less than 1 year of service: 15 days sick pay benefit
• 1-3 years of service: 1 month sick pay benefit
• 3-5 years of service: 2 months sick pay benefit
• 5-10 years of service: 3 months sick pay benefit
• 10-15 years of service: 4 months sick pay benefit
• 15-20 years of service: 5 months sick pay benefit
• 20-30 years of service: 6 months sick pay benefit
• More than 30 years of service: additional 10 days sick pay benefit

Parental Leave In Gabon

Currently, Gabon does not offer additional shared parental leave beyond the provisions for maternity and paternity leave.

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In Gabon, benefits play a central role in attracting and retaining top talent. Employees often expect more than just a paycheck – they're looking for stability, healthcare coverage, pension plans, and other perks that show a company is invested in their well-being. If you're not familiar with what’s standard or required, you risk falling short. An Employer of Record helps bridge that gap by administering a locally competitive benefits package that meets both legal requirements and employee expectations.

An EOR doesn't just check boxes, they make sure your employees receive benefits that are timely, properly communicated, and well-managed from the moment they’re onboarded. From managing healthcare contributions to adjusting for regional differences in leave or bonus entitlements, an EOR acts as both a legal and operational partner. The result is a better employee experience, less administrative burden on your internal team, and greater confidence that your offer is aligned with what top candidates in Gabon actually want and need.

Termination Process in Gabon

In Gabon, employment contracts are subject to termination due to poor performance or misconduct. The termination process involves employers writing to the employee, scheduling an interview to discuss the cause of dismissal. In the event of termination, a formal letter must be provided, clearly indicating the reason for dismissal.

Notice Period in Gabon

In Gabon, notice periods preceding termination are determined based on the length of an employee's service:

1. Less than 1 year of service: 15 days notice
2. 1-5 years of service: 1 month notice
3. 5+ years of service: 3 months notice

Severance in Gabon

Upon completing 2 years of service in Gabon, employees are entitled to severance pay, the amount of which is contingent on their length of service.

1. After 2 years of service: 0.4 months pay
2. 4 years of service: 0.8 months pay
3. 5 years of service: 1 month pay
4. 10 years of service: 2 months pay
5. 20 years of service: 4 months pay