Burkina Faso is a French-speaking, landlocked West African country. The Mossi language is spoken throughout the country. A staple of the economy is agriculture, specifically the rearing of livestock. The economy is extremely favourable to trade and is seeing an influx of foreign investment. The strategic location and economic potential are considerations for businesses considering expansion into Africa.
Employment contracts may be verbal or written, but best practice is to execute a written contract in the local language. All employment contracts should include:
Standard hours in Burkina Faso vary by industry, but a 40 hour workweek is common. Individual employment contracts or collective agreements typically define work hours and days, including provisions related to overtime. Special rules and limitations apply to young workers.
Employees are entitled to sick leave. Generally, an employer cannot terminate an employee absent from work because of an illness for one year. Employees are entitled to a payment while out on sick leave based on years of service:
Female employees receive 14 weeks of fully paid maternity leave after three months of employment, which begins as early as eight weeks before but no later than four weeks before the expected due date. The leave can be extended by three additional weeks if there are complications during the birth, or any other health-related problems. Eligible female employees receive 100% of their gross covered earning while on maternity leave through Burkina Faso’s social security program, as well as a family allowance. Male employees receive a three-day paid paternity leave without requiring notice for the birth of a child. He is also entitled to a six-month unpaid leave in the case of a sick child, which requires one month’s notice and can be extended to a maximum of one year.
Employers are not required to pay employees bonuses but may elect to do so as part of their compensation package. Employers in Burkina Faso commonly pay bonuses employees at the end of the year.
An employee is entitled to 22 days of paid leave after one year of service, which does not include personal days, sick leave, or maternity leave. This leave increases by two days after 20 years of service, four days after 25 years, and six days after 30 years of service. The employer and employee must agree on the start date for the leave. The employer must pay the employee the entire duration of the leave before it begins.
The following holidays are observed in Burkina Faso:
The labour code does not require that employers provide health benefits to their employees. Further, due to complications in the healthcare system it is recommended that both employers and employees purchase private insurance.
An employment contract may be terminated by either the employer or the employee for misconduct, for social or economic reasons or at the end of the contract term. Initiating termination requires a written notice period of eight days for part-time definite contracts, one month for full-time regular employees, and three months for managers, supervisors, and technicians. No termination notice is required during the probation period, or in the event of a serious fault on the part of the employee. A compensatory notice indemnity may be required in some instances. An employee is entitled to severance pay after one year of continuous service, unless the employee is dismissed for misconduct.
We understand that local laws and regulations change and sourcing an accurate reference guide is not easy. Our data is researched and verified by our team of local international Employment Attorneys, HR and Benefit Professionals and Tax Accountants through our Atlas team and consultants, to ensure information up-to-date and accurate.
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