Employer of Record in Seychelles
Skuad's Seychelles Employer of Record (EOR) helps businesses expand internationally with the assistance of their global network. Skuad has an automated outsourcing HR service that helps companies manage and handle HR processes such as onboarding the team, managing their payrolls, compliance, etc., remotely.
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Seychelles At A Glance
Population: 98,462
Currency: Seychellois Rupee (SCR)
Capital city: Victoria
Languages spoken: English, French, Seychellois Creole
GDP: 5.3% (2019)
What You Must Know Before Employing In Seychelles
While setting up a local entity in Seychelles, one needs to be familiar with the employment laws, such as the Employment Act amendments, conditions of employment regulations, contracts of employment, etc. and other rules related to hiring a local or foreign national. As a company, you also need to decide whether you need a separate internal team to hire employees or take help from a local entity that will handle the hiring process.
Below are some of the rights and entitlements of employees in Seychelles:
Entitlements |
Explanations |
Statutory Working Hours |
60 hrs per week. |
Overtime Eligibility |
Overtime is allowed with a maximum of 60 hours worked overtime per month.
- A person working overtime on a weekday gets paid 150% of the total wage.
- A person working overtime on a rest day or holiday gets paid 300% of the basic wage.
- An employee working in shifts gets paid 150% of the basic salary.
- An employee working on a public holiday gets paid 150% of the basic salary.
|
Paid Public Holidays |
Employees in Seychelles are eligible for paid public holidays. They are as follows:
- New Year's Day (1 January)
- Good Friday (2 April)
- Holy Saturday (3 Apr)
- Easter Monday (5 Apr)
- Labour Day (1 May)
- Corpus Christi (3 June)
- Constitution Day (18 June)
- Independence Day (29 June)
- Assumption of Mary (15 August)
- All Saints' Day (1 November)
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8 December)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
|
Holiday Pay |
Employees get paid for annual leave, sick leave, or working on public holidays.
An employee gets paid 150% of the basic salary if he/she has worked on a public holiday.
|
Medical Leave |
An employee is entitled to 21 days of paid sick leaves. An employee can also avail of additional 30 days of paid sick leave and unpaid leaves of 60 days. |
Maternity & Paternity leave |
- A female employee is entitled to receive paid maternity leave of 16 weeks.
- It is mandatory to take 12 weeks of maternity leave after childbirth.
- A woman can also avail of additional unpaid leave for 4 weeks before or after childbirth.
- The employee must provide prior notice of three months to the employers about the expected due date.
- Male employees can avail of paternity leave of at least 10 days.
- Employees need to provide prior notice of 8 weeks before the expected delivery.
- All the benefits of maternity and paternity are covered under the social security scheme.
|
Annual Leave Accrual Entitlement |
The employees earn annual paid leaves according to the number of years that they have worked at the organization:
Duration of service |
Leaves |
Less than a year |
2 days per month |
More than a year |
24 days |
Part-time workers can take leaves on a prorated basis.
|
Leave Expiry |
Leaves for the current year cannot be rolled over to the following year. |
Accrued Leave At Termination |
Any unused leave or annual leave is paid to the employee upon the termination of service. |
Duties and Rights of the Employees in the Remote Working System |
Remote employees hold the same privileges and are required to follow the same rules as full-time and in-office peers:
- Employees hold the right to their privacy.
- Employees are qualified to get promotions and benefits.
- Employees have the right to hold the same amount of workload and expectations as their full-time counterparts.
- Employees must meet the required security requirements.
- Employees must be able to handle the challenges and hardships that come with remote working.
- Employees should be accessible to their employers and colleagues during work hours.
|
To learn more about employment laws in Seychelles, and employment agreements in Seychelles, talk to experts at Skuad.
Contractors Vs. Full-Time Employees
Setting up a company is a long and complex process; it comes with the responsibility of knowing whether to hire a full-time employee or an individual on a contract basis. Seychelles laws provide for part-time contract work, but contract-based work does not have a fixed duration and has a flexible schedule. Such workers are usually hired as temporary replacements for permanent employees. A full-time employee has a fixed schedule and generally earns better trust from the employer. Since engaging such employees is easy, their payment is 30% cheaper. From an employer’s perspective, the full-time employee saves more business money compared to a contract-based employee. A contract-based worker can work for a maximum of 25 hrs per week and a total duration of 3 months. However, this may vary with a full-time employee hired based on a contract with a minimum wage and duration.
Companies that are planning to expand into the Seychelles market should carefully analyze these options before setting up an entity and hiring personnel in Seychelles.
Drafting employment contracts that meet all the legal requirements of the laws in Seychelles can be a challenge for companies looking to hire employees in Seychelles. However, employment contract templates form a part of Skuad’s all-inclusive EOR services so that the companies expanding into Seychelles don’t need to draft separate agreements from scratch.
To avail yourself of our services, get in touch with Skuad experts here.
Hiring In Seychelles
To start the hiring process for your company in Seychelles, you may first need to set up a subsidiary. As there is a rising demand for hiring foreign workers, Seychelles has implemented new laws and policies for recruiting them. The Employment laws, Employment services bureau and Employment agencies, Section 40 and 71 of employment regulations include hiring an HR for the company with 25 or more employees and ensuring the foreign nationals do not change their jobs unless they are victims of human trafficking.
You can find the right employees on online platforms like Glassdoor, Caterer Global, Career Jet, Job Island, etc. If you want to look for candidates from all over the world, you can find them on overseas job portals like LinkedIn, Go abroad, etc. Companies also post job advertisements in newspapers, through agencies, or EOR services to hire full-time employees or contractors. When hiring through online platforms or agencies, one needs to check their background thoroughly as some applications might turn out to be fraudulent. The chances of this happening are much higher in the online hiring process. It is also essential to ensure that the agencies you are taking services from have a proper license.
When hiring a local employee or a foreign national, they should be presented with the employment contract, which is required by law in Seychelles. A written contract should be prepared for both fixed-term and indefinite contracts for employees.
Another option employers have is to partner with a global EOR specializing in international hiring and recruiting in Seychelles. In addition to providing a seamless hiring experience, an EOR service for Seychelles will also handle HR management, payroll, taxation, and other compliances related to hiring.
Expanding into a new country can be a complex and time-consuming process, leaving you with little time and resources to devote to hiring and recruiting new employees. With Skuad’s Seychelles EOR services, you can rest assured that the hiring and recruiting compliance is taken care of.
Learn more about Skuad here.
Probation & Termination
Probation period
An employee on probation in Seychelles should give a notice period of at least seven days.
Termination of service: Notice for termination of employment
An employee willing to terminate his service to the company needs to provide a notice period. Employees who are under fixed-term contracts are to be given a notice period by the employers. An employee can also terminate his service without a notice period if the employer has breached the employment contract, violated the labor law, etc. The notice period differs for each type of employment:
Type of employment |
Notice period |
Casual worker |
1 day |
An employee on probation |
7 days |
Workers other than a non-Seychelles employee |
1 month |
Non-Seychelles employee |
1 month or the period mentioned in the contract. |
EOR Solution In Seychelles
If you are trying to expand your business in Seychelles and want to start hiring employees and managing payroll for your company without setting up a subsidiary, an EOR service would be a good option for you. The EOR service will manage all the processes such as hiring the employee, compliance, taxes, payrolls, etc., on your behalf.
Skuad is one of the top Employer of Record companies in Seychelles, handling all aspects of HR services, including work visas and work permits, hiring, payroll, salaries, benefits, compliance, preparing employment contracts, termination, severance pay, and more. The platform acts as a single central tool for accomplishing your hire-to-retire services.
Contact Skuad
Outsourcing Employment Through An Employer of Record
As a growing business, there are some crucial decisions you need to take when expanding your company in Seychelles. It is important to decide whether you want to hire an in-house team for hiring and managing payroll and taxes or outsource the responsibility. An EOR may then act as a local entity for you and manage all the tasks related to employees and their benefits. Skuad’s Seychelles EOR solution can help in the process of hiring and managing the payroll of employees. They provide outsourcing and automated services so that companies do not feel the burden of the recruitment process and can focus on their core business operations.
Types Of Visas In Seychelles
Seychelles is known to be a visa-free country. If you are planning to travel to Seychelles, you may do so without getting a visa. But it is recommended to have a passport with the validity of the stay and other necessary documents permitted by the Seychelles government. Before entering the country, you must have a visitors permit after fulfilling the eligibility criteria:
- the permit holder should not be a prohibited immigrant
- should not have a permit that allows the owner to stay in Seychelles
- should have enough funds for accommodation
- must have a confirmed valid return ticket during the visit.
Visa Category |
Explanation |
Visitors' Permit |
- This permit is granted free of cost for the first three months.
- For an extended period of another three months, the charges are SCR 5000.
- The conditions for obtaining an extended visa permit are similar to that of a visa permit.
|
Seychelles Work Visa |
- The Seychelles work visa is issued to those foreign nationals who are willing to work in the country.
- The employer has to apply for the work visa on behalf of the employee.
- To get a work visa, foreigners need to apply for a Gainful Occupation Permit (GOP) if the applicant is self-employed in his own company.
- The GOP application form is then submitted to the immigration office, Victoria, for approval.
- To state your approval, submit the approval letter issued by Seychelles Investment Bureau to the authority.
|
GOP eligibility criteria |
The following are the criteria to obtain the GOP for a work visa:
- The technical skills and professional qualifications of the applicant.
- The applicant rendering the service is already residing in Seychelles.
- The applicant's character, reputation and health.
- Protection of local interest
- Benefits to the economy and positive changes that could be contributed by the applicant.
|
Residence Permit |
The following are the eligibility criteria to get a residence permit:
- The applicant is not a prohibited immigrant.
- The applicant should have a family connection or a domestic connection.
- He/she must contribute to the social, economic, or cultural benefit in Seychelles.
Until the residence permit expires, the resident permit holder has to stay in the country for a minimum of five days each month. If the residence permit holder stays in Seychelles for over a month during any year, they have to deposit in the bank a certain amount or provide a bank guarantee of at least SCR 20,000. The application fee for the resident permit is SCR 50,000.
|
Seychelles Tourist Visa |
- The tourist visa is issued to foreign nationals who want to visit or explore the city.
- The tourist visa does not allow the holder to work in Seychelles.
- A tourist visa can be issued on arrival in the country.
|
Seychelles Transit Visa |
The transit visa is issued to temporary visitors who are in Seychelles for a few days and are on their way to travel to another nation. |
Work permits
To obtain a work permit in Seychelles, certain steps need to be taken care of before the permit holder arrives in the country. The work permit procedures can be managed and handled by Skuad’s local EOR partner in Seychelles.
Work permit |
Explanation |
Can Skuad Sponsor Work Permit in Seychelles? |
Yes |
Processing time |
10 weeks |
Work permit process |
Step 1: Apply for a Gainful Occupation Permit (GOP) if the person is self-employed in his own company.
Step 2: Submit the filled GOP application to the immigration office for approval.
Step 3: Submit the letter of approval issued by the Seychelles Investment Bureau for approval to the authority.
Step 4: Pay the processing fee for the GOP along with the application.
|
Work Permit Validity |
1 month, 3 months, or more than 3 months, depending on the type of GOP. |
When Can An Employee Travel to Seychelles? |
After the GOP is issued, the employee is allowed to enter Seychelles. |
Switch Resident Visa to Work Permit? |
No |
What’s The Cost of a Work permit Visa? |
For the GOP application process - SCR 1000.
For GOP - SCR 700.
|
As an EOR service for Seychelles, Skuad takes care of all the requirements and responsibilities related to employment, including applying for and obtaining visas and work permits. Get in touch with Skuad’s experts to learn more.
Things You Must Know To Set Up Payroll In Seychelles
If you are willing to expand your company in Seychelles, the first step should be to set up payroll. To set up payroll in Seychelles, you must be familiar with the country’s employment laws and payroll options to ensure total compliance. Seychelles provides the following payroll options to choose from:
- Internal: A huge company that wants to operate in Seychelles for a long duration should set up an internal payroll. If you opt for this type of payroll, you might need a bigger budget and more HR staff.
- Remote: If a parent company already has a payroll set up, they can add the employees to that payroll and pay remotely. The laws and regulations will differ somewhat compared to the parent company.
- Seychelles payroll processing company: To make payroll processing easier, companies can choose to outsource their payroll with a Seychelles payroll processing company.
- Skuad’s EOR solution: Skuad’s unified employment platform ensures effective payroll management and compliance for organizations.
Setting up payroll in Seychelles is a long process and can take several months. Skuad’s hyper-localized EOR Seychelles services make compliance with payroll and taxation requirements laws easy and stress-free. Contact us to learn more about our services.
Taxes in Seychelles
Tax |
Explanation |
Income Tax |
16% |
Tax Returns |
Yes |
Financial Year End Date |
December 31 |
Tax Documents |
Not applicable |
Corporate Tax |
0-33% |
Withholding Tax (For Non-Residents) : |
Dividend - 15%
Interest- 15%
Royalties- 15%
|
Payroll Tax |
No payroll tax applicable |
Sales Tax |
15% |
Employers Social Security and statutory contributions |
Employers contribution- 20%
Employee contribution- 2.5%
|
Public Pension |
Insured person - 1.5%
Self-employed - 3%
Employer - 1.5%
|
Medical Insurance |
Health insurance is provided to every resident in Seychelles to cover medical treatment costs in case of any health emergency. |
Incorporation: How to Set Up A Subsidiary In Seychelles
When establishing a subsidiary in Seychelles, processes like operations, hiring employees, setting up payroll, etc., may take a significant amount of time and limit your work in the parent company. While setting up a subsidiary in Seychelles, you need to consider factors like the city and the location of your subsidiary. A subsidiary can be a branch office, LLC (limited liability company), an offshore company, etc. Most companies opt for LLC as it is beneficial for the parent company and the subsidiary as well.
Registering your subsidiary in Seychelles as an LLC entails the following steps:
- Filing the parent company information and a copy of the certificate of incorporation with the Company Register.
- Drafting and filing the Articles of Association.
- Paying the registration fees after receiving the receipt.
- Opening a local bank account to pay the employees.
The laws for the subsidiary in Seychelles depend on the type of entity that is set up. Once the subsidiary is set up in Seychelles, you can trade in every sector with residents and non-residents as long as you have the right license for regulated industries.
It is advantageous to work with Skuad’s EOR solution to avoid incorporating a holding company in Seychelles and yet hire the best local talent here for your Seychelles business.
Book a demo here and learn more about Skuad’s services.
Professional Employer Organization (PEO)
A PEO (Professional Employer Organisation) administers and hires the workforce for your company while the company focuses on its business. A PEO service can be very helpful while trying to expand in a new country.
A PEO service enables companies to run their payroll in Seychelles as the burden of paying taxes, HR services, compliance management, etc., is lifted off their shoulders. A PEO expert follows the best practices of employment contracts, employee expenses, market and statutory norm benefits, and termination process whenever required. A PEO can also sponsor the visas to live and work in any part of Seychelles. It is necessary to ensure that the PEO service you are hiring is legitimate and licensed. A PEO is the co-employee of a company, so there is the potential risk of losing control over your own company as they have certain rights and liabilities over the company.
On the other hand, if you want to reduce the risk of a co-employee, you can choose the services of an EOR. An EOR is a legal employer for your company and can handle all the tasks similar to a PEO without ever setting up a separate entity in the country. Skuad’s EOR solutions work similarly and take up a part of HR responsibilities and help the organization hire resources in the country without an entity. If an employee is found living and working in Seychelles without a visa or the company does not sponsor the employees' visa, the employee will be forced to leave the country. More severe punishment could mean both the employee and company getting blacklisted in the country.
Simply put, a PEO is at best a co-employer while an EOR serves as a legal entity for your business. While you will be held liable for any disputes or compliance-related issues with a PEO, an EOR will shoulder the responsibility and ramifications of compliance and its associated concerns.
Skuad’s EOR solutions help companies seeking to expand their business internationally to do so without having to deal with the hassle and liability of complying with the local labor and employment laws. Talk to Skuad experts to learn more.
Conclusion
If you have been eyeing Seychelles as a potential destination for expanding your business, you could do it on your own, or better still, take the help of an Employer of Record in Seychelles. Skuad’s EOR solution can help your company set up payroll and avail other benefits from their service. Speak to Skuad’s team of experts for more details and information.
FAQs
1) What is an Employer of Record in Seychelles?
An Employer of Record (EOR) in Seychelles is a strategic employment partner that helps businesses hire local employees without setting up a local entity. The EOR handles all employment-related matters, including payroll, contracts, and ensuring compliance with Seychelles labor laws.
2) What is an Employer of Record?
An Employer of Record (EOR) is a service that hires employees and manages all legal employment responsibilities on behalf of a company that does not have a legal entity in a particular country. It ensures compliance with local laws while the client oversees day-to-day operations.
3) How much is the average salary in Seychelles?
The average monthly salary in Seychelles is around SCR 15,000 (approximately USD 1,100), though this can vary by sector. Tourism and public services tend to offer higher wages, while unskilled positions may earn less.
4) How much does an EOR cost?
The cost of an EOR typically varies based on country and the number of employees being managed. It generally ranges from $100 to $1000 or even more per employee per month, depending on the services provided and the complexity of local regulations.
5) What are the benefits of EOR?
The benefits of an EOR include ensuring compliance with local labor laws, avoiding the need for a local entity, managing payroll and taxes, and reducing the risks associated with international hiring.