Expand your global workforce in Gabon
Your guide to the employment landscape, working customs and local labor laws in Gabon
Capital
Libreville
Currency
Central African CFA Franc (XAF)
Languages
French, Fang
GDP per Capita
$ 6,641.53
Employer Tax
20.1%
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
Talent overview
Gabon boasts its economy with significant foreign investments since they are heavily tied with the French economy. They rely on skilled foreign workers and are one of the biggest economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, with $1.72B of foreign investments making up 11.21% of the country’s GDP. Gabon is rich in natural resources such as timber, manganese, and oil. It is also Africa’s fifth biggest oil producer, accounting for 50% of Gabon’s total economy and 80% of its exports.
Major economic hubs:
Libreville
Skills in demand:
Mining Professionals, Engineering Professionals, ICT Professionals
Gabon
Top local universities in Gabon
Université Omar Bongo
Ranking
Local: 1
World: 10,625
Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku
Ranking
Local: 2
World: 11,142
Institut des Techniques Avancées
Ranking
Local: 3
World: 12,494
École Normale Supérieure de Libreville
Ranking
Local: 4
World: 12,618
BBS School of Management
Ranking
Local: 5
World: 12,797
Top Local Job Boards:
Careers In Africa, Jobnet Africa, Job Artis
Number of LinkedIn users:
181, 400
Top Recruitment Agencies:
Where to find talent
Top Local Job Boards:
Top Local Job Boards
Number of LinkedIn users:
Number of LinkedIn users
Top Recruitment Agencies:
Top Recruitment Agencies:
Salary Data
Some of the common jobs in Gabon with average monthly salary;
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (XAF) | Average Monthly Salary (USD) |
| General Manager | 922,000.00 | 1,503 |
| Information Technology Manager | 857,000.00 | 1,397 |
| Business Development Manager | 816,000.00 | 1,331 |
| Business Analyst | 643,000.00 | 1048 |
| Developer / Programmer | 532,000.00 | 867 |
| Database Administrator | 508,000.00 | 828 |
| Network Engineer | 442,000.00 | 720 |
Employ in Gabon
Employing in Gabon
Hiring in Gabon requires you to be aware of the local employment laws, benefits, payroll, and taxes. Below is everything you need to know on how to successfully onboard talents from Gabon.
Employee Contract
Employment contracts in Gabon can be either written or oral. In practice, employers provide written contracts to employees in French stipulating working conditions and benefits available under the labor code.
Probation Period
The probationary period for new employees is up to six months in Gabon.
Public and Provincial Holidays
| Date | Name | Type |
| January 1 | New Year | National Holiday |
| March 31 | Eid al-Fitr | National Holiday |
| April 17 | Women’s Rights Day | National Holiday |
| April 20 | Easter Sunday | National Holiday |
| April 21 | Easter Monday | National Holiday |
| May 1 | Labour Day | National Holiday |
| May 29 | Ascension Day | National Holiday |
| June 7 | Eid al-Adha | National Holiday |
| June 9 | Whit Monday | National Holiday |
| August 15 | Assumption of Mary | National Holiday |
| August 16 | Independence Day | National Holiday |
| August 17 | Independence Day Holiday | National Holiday |
| November 1 | All Saints’ Day | National Holiday |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | National Holiday |
Employee Leaves
| Type of leave | Time period | Mandatory |
| Annual leave/Earned Leave | 24 days | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 14 weeks | Yes |
| Sick Leave | 6 months | Yes |
Leave Compliance
Public and Provincial Holidays
Payroll in Gabon
Payroll cycle
Workers in Gabon are paid monthly.
Minimum wage
The minimum wage in Gabon is XAF 150,000 (USD 229.49) per month.
Overtime pay
Overtime in Gabon is limited to 20 hours per week. The minimum overtime rate is 1.25x the normal wage but depends on the contract between the employer and employee.
How taxes work
Employer Payroll Tax
| Scheme | Contribution |
| CNSS (National Social Security Fund) | 16% |
| Workplace Accident and Illness | 3% |
| CNAMGS (National Disease Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund) | 4.1% |
Employee Payroll Tax
| Scheme | Contribution |
| CNSS (National Social Security Fund) | 2.5% |
| Workplace Accident and Illness | – |
| CNAMGS (National Disease Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund) | – |
Employee Income Tax
Employee income determination in Gabon is determined by the annual salary deducted by a 20% allowance divided by the family quotient.
Q = [(S x 12) – A] / P (as Q is annual)
P = Family quotient (number of shares).
S = Monthly taxable gross income.
A = 20% allowance.
The family quotient depends on the number of dependents the employee has, which is determined by the number of shares as explained below.
| Family status | Number of shares |
(without dependent child) |
1 |
|
2 |
|
2.5 |
|
3 |
|
3.5 |
|
0.5 |
The tax is determined according the table below:
| Part of the taxable revenue for 1 share (Q) | Rate of tax |
| 0 – 1,500,000 | 0 |
| 1,500,001 – 1,920,000 | 5% x Q – 75,000 |
| 1,920,001 – 2,700,000 | 10% x Q – 171,000 |
| 2,700,001 – 3,600,000 | 15% x Q – 306,000 |
| 3,600,001 – 5,160,000 | 20% x Q – 486,000 |
| 5,160,001 – 7,500,000 | 25% x Q – 744,000 |
| 7,500,001 – 11,000,000 | 30% x Q – 1,119,000 |
| 11,000,001 and above | 35% x Q – 1,669,000 |
VAT
Standard VAT in Gabon is 18%.
Bonus
13th Month Pay
The 13th-month pay is not mandatory in Gabon but it is a common practice employers use to compensate their employees.
Employee Benefits
- Annual Leave
- Maternity Leave
- Sick Leave
- Social Security Benefit
- Employment Injury Benefit
- Old-age Pension
- Dependent / Survivors Benefit
- Unemployment Benefit
- Disability Pension
Employee offboarding
Termination in Gabon requires a notice period when an employee is terminated during the contract by fault of the employee except for gross negligence. There are certain cases where the notice period can be waived, excluding serious misconduct.
The notice period for termination depends on the seniority of the employee in the organization.
- 15 days for up to 1 year of service
- 1 month’s notice for 1 – 3 years of service
- 2 months’ 3 – 5 years of service
- 4 months’ 10 – 15 years of service
- 5 months’ 15 – 20 years of service
- 6 months’ for 20 – 30 years of service
- 6 months’ + 10 days extra per year of service with more than 30 years
Employees who have at least 2 years of service in the company are entitled to as severance pay for termination or resignation. The severance pay in Gabon is 20% of the average monthly salary of the last 1 year in service to the same organization.
Visa and
immigration
Applying for a visa in Gabon is required and can be processed online (e-Visa). You can submit the required document form and a passport with at least 6 months of validity. The application is 72 hours in so you cannot travel to Gabon without a processed visa. E visas are granted from 1-3 months with a single entry to 6 with multiple entries. Payment for the e-Visa is upon delivery of the e-Visa sticker.
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Overtime Pay
Minimum Wage
Overtime Pay
Visa and Immigration