Talent Wiki - Eritrea
Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Eritrea
Capital
Asmara
Currency
Eritrean Nakfa (ERN)
Languages
Tigrinya
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
GDP per Capita
$646
Employer Tax
None
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
Local Universities
Some of the top local universities in Eritrea are as follows:
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
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 |
Talent Sourcing Tips
Top Local Job Boards:
Number of LinkedIn users:
10,970
Top Recruitment Agencies:
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 |
Payroll
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.
Bonus
13th Month Pay:
There is no statutory law for 13th month pay in Eritrea
Employee Benefits:
- Maternity benefits
- Paid vacation time
Taxes
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%.
Offboarding & Termination
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
The notice period followed in Eritrea ranges from 3 days to 7 days.
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
