Talent Wiki - Guinea Bissau
Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Guinea Bissau
Capital
Bissau
Currency
West African CFA franc (XOF)
Languages
Portuguese
Payroll Frequency
monthly
GDP per Capita
$614
Employer Tax
14%
Talent Overview
Guinea – Bissau’s economy is dependent on its agricultural sector, which has accounted for 48% of their GDP. The country is known for its Cashew crops and has been the second-largest exporter in West Africa. Moreover, they are also exporting other products such as peanuts, timber, and rice.
Major economic hubs:
Bissau, Bafatá, Gabú
Skills in demand:
Sales manager, Cloud Engineer, Software Developers, Physicians and Surgeons, Crop and Fish Farmers
Local Universities
Below are the top universities in Guineau - Bissau:
Universidade Lusófona da Guiné (Universidade Lusófona da Guiné-Bissau)
Ranking
Local: 1
University of Colinas de Boe
Ranking
Local: 2
Salary Data
Below are the average monthly salaries for the following occupations in Guinea – Bissau:
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (XOF) | Average Monthly Salary (USD) |
| Sales Representative | 530,000 | 864 |
| Accounting and Finance | 508,000 | 828 |
| Project Manager | 427,000 | 696 |
| Software Engineer | 301,000 | 491 |
| Data Analyst | 299,000 | 487 |
| Technical Support Engineer | 282,000 | 460 |
| User Experience Designer | 272,000 | 443 |
Talent Sourcing Tips
Top Local Job Boards:
UNJobs, JobNet Africa, Careers in Africa
Number of LinkedIn users:
16,000
Top Recruitment Agencies:
Employing in Guinea – Bissau
Employers are expected to be familiar with their country’s labor code before onboarding locals from Guinea – Bissau. The following sections discuss some of the important regulations when employing locals.
Employee Contract
Employee Contracts in Guinea – Bissau may be written or oral in the local language (Portuguese).
Probation Period
The probation period for employees in Guinea – Bissau is one to six months.
Public and Provincial Holidays 2023
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year | Public Holiday |
| 20 Jan | Heroes Day | Public Holiday |
| 8 Mar | International Women’s Day | Public Holiday |
| 22 Apr | Eid al-Fitr | Public Holiday |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Public Holiday |
| 29 Jun | Eid al-Adha (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 3 Aug | Martyrs’ Day | Public Holiday |
| 24 Sep | Independence Day (National Day) | Public Holiday |
| 14 Nov | Readjustment Movement Day | Public Holiday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | Public Holiday |
Employee Leaves
| Type of Leave | Time Period | Mandatory |
| Annual Leave | 4 weeks | Yes |
| Sick Leave | 5 days | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 60 days | Yes |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
Salaries in Guinea-Bissau are released per month.
Minimum Wage
Monthly minimum wage in Guinea-Bissau is XOF 59,000.
Overtime Pay
Employees are compensated an additional 50% of their hourly rate for the first hour of extra work. They will be paid an additional 75% for every hour succeeding that.
Bonus
13th Month Pay
A 13th month pay in Guinea – Bissau is not required.
Employee Benefits
- Statutory Leaves
- Medical Benefits
- Old Age Pension
- Disability Insurance
Taxes
Employer Payroll Tax
| Type of Contribution | Tax Rate |
| Social Insurance | 14% |
Employee Payroll Tax:
| Type of Contribution | Tax Rate |
| Social Insurance | 8% |
Employee Income Tax
| Income Bracket (XOF) | Tax Rate |
| 0 – 500,000 | 1% |
| 500.001 – 1,000,000 | 6% |
| 1,000,001 – 2,500,000 | 8% |
| 2,500,001 – 3,600,000 | 10% |
| 3 600 000 + | 12% |
VAT
The VAT rate in Guinea – Bissau is 15%
Offboarding & Termination
Termination of employment may be due to just cause, redundancy, expiration of contract or resignation.
The notice period for employees in Guinea – Bissau will vary depending on the collective agreement.
Severance pay for employees that have been terminated due to redundancy is as follows:
| Years of Service | Severance Pay |
| 1 year | 13 weeks’ worth of pay |
| 5 years | 21.7 weeks’ worth of pay |
| 10 years | 43.3 weeks’ worth of pay |
Visa and Immigration
Foreigners working in Guinea – Bissau must secure a work visa to work in the country legally. They can apply for a multiplier visa entry which has a validity of either 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year.
