Talent Wiki - Samoa
Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Samoa
Capital
Apia
Currency
Samoan Tala (WST)
Languages
Samoan and English
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
GDP per Capita
$4,128.37
Employer Tax
10%
Talent Overview
Samoa, an island country located in the Oceania region between Hawaii and New Zealand, is mostly focused on subsistence farming. About 90% of the country’s exports are agricultural products, and two-thirds of the labor force works in the sector.
Major economic hubs:
Apia, Salelologa
Skills in demand:
Medical professionals, finance and mechanical jobs
Local Universities
The most popular university in the island nation of Samoa is as below:
Le lunivestie Aoao o Samoa
RANKING
Local: 1
World: 8261
Salary Data
Some of the popular jobs in Samoa and their respective salaries are listed below:
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (WST) | Average Monthly Salary (USD) |
| Financial Manager | 4,460 | 1,656.64 |
| General Manager | 4,080 | 1,515.49 |
| Business Development Manager | 3,540 | 1,314.47 |
| Financial Analyst | 2,960 | 1,099.11 |
| Business Analyst | 2,840 | 1,054.55 |
| Project Manager | 2,720 | 1,009.99 |
Talent Sourcing Tips
Top Local Job Boards:
Maoriandpacificjobs, myjobssamoa
Number of LinkedIn users:
15,000
Top Recruitment Agencies:
Employing in Samoa
Get to know the standard employment regulations in the country of Samoa. It is essential to understand the working conditions, annual leaves, and other entitlements for the employees.
Employee Contract: The language of the contract has to be Samoan or English, depending on the employee’s preference.
Probation Period
Samoa follows a probationary period of three months for the employees.
Public and Provincial Holidays 2023
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | Public Holiday |
| 2 Jan | New Year’s Day observed | Public Holiday |
| 3 Jan | Day After New Year’s Day | Public Holiday |
| 7 Apr | Good Friday | Public Holiday |
| 8 Apr | Day After Good Friday | Public Holiday |
| 10 Apr | Easter Monday | Public Holiday |
| 15 May | Mother’s Day | Public Holiday |
| 1 Jun | Independence Day | Public Holiday |
| 14 Aug | Father’s Day | Public Holiday |
| 9 Oct | Lotu a Tamaiti | Public Holiday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | Public Holiday |
| 26 Dec | Boxing Day | Public Holiday |
Employee Leaves
| Type of Leave | Time Period | Mandatory |
| Annual Leave | 10 days | yes |
| Sick Leave | 10 days | yes |
| Maternity Leave | 6 weeks | yes |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
In Samoa, the employees are paid wages on a monthly basis
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Samoa ranges from USD 4.98 to USD 6.39, depending on the industry.
Overtime Pay
Hours exceeding 40 a week are considered overtime. During the weekdays, Saturdays, and commission holidays, the overtime rate is 150% of the current pay, while work on Sundays and public holidays are paid at 200%.
Bonus
13th Month Pay
No mandatory status for 13th-month pay.
Employee Benefits
No compulsory benefits are followed in Samoa but are subject to employer discretion. Commonly found benefits include:
- Maternity leave
- Paternity leave
Taxes
Employer Payroll Tax
| Type of Contribution | Tax Rate |
| National Provident Fund | 10% |
Employee Payroll Tax
| Type of Contribution | Tax Rate |
| National Provident Fund | 10% |
Employee Income Tax
| Annual Income | Tax Rate |
| Income below WST 15,000 | Nil |
| WST 15,001 – WST 25,000 | 20% |
| Above WST 25,001 | 27% |
Salary and wage tax PAYE rates for individual taxpayers:
| Fortnightly | Rate | Annual | Rate |
| $0 – $576 | Nil | $0 – $15,000 | Nil |
| $577 – $962 | 20% | $15,001 – $25,000 | 20% |
VAT
Samoa charges all goods and services at 15%.
Offboarding & Termination
The employment contract for an unspecified period can be terminated by either party by giving notice.
For wage workers above a year of service, the notice period is 1 month, and for permanent employees over an employment period of 1 year, it is 3 months.
In Samoa, the severance pay is based on the period of employment. For employment terms less than a year, no severance pay is provided. Beyond that, for continuous service, the severance pay is calculated as: 4 weeks pay + 2 weeks pay for every extra year of service, up to a maximum of 48 weeks.
Visa and Immigration
Every non-citizen trying employment beyond three months in the country has to apply for a Foreign Employee Employment Permit (FEEP). The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labor is responsible for accepting these applications and issues employment permits.
