Capital: Conakry
Population: (2022 est.) 13,269,000
Monetary Unit: Guinean franc (FG)
Language(s): French
Guinea, country of western Africa, located on the Atlantic coast. Three of western Africa’s major rivers—the Gambia, the Niger, and the Sénégal—rise in Guinea. Natural resources are plentiful: in addition to its hydroelectric potential, Guinea possesses a large portion of the world’s bauxite reserves and significant amounts of iron, gold, and diamonds. Nonetheless, the economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture.
The public holidays in Guinea are as follows;
Date Holiday
- 1 Jan New Year’s Day
- 2 Jan New Year Holiday
- 7 Jan Constitution Day
- 9 Jan Constitution Day Holiday
- 6 Mar Independence Day
- 7 Apr Good Friday
- 10 Apr Easter Monday
- 21 Apr Eid al-Fitr
- 1 May May Day
- 25 May Africa Unity Day
- 28 Jun Eid al-Adha
- 1 Jul Republic Day
- 4 Aug Founders’ Day
- 21 Sep Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day
- 1 Dec Farmers’ Day
- 25 Dec Christmas Day
- 26 Dec Boxing Day
Probation period is typically 3 months.
Employees are generally eligible to accrue paid leave at a rate of 2 1/2 days per month worked.
Female employees are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave.
There is no statutory paternity leave in Guinea.
Employees are generally entitled to up to 26 weeks of paid sick leave.
At the expiration of a fixed-term contract, the employee is eligible for severance pay of 5% of the total wages for the contracted period. Employees under an indefinite term contract who have completed at least 12 months of service are generally entitled to receive severance pay of at least 50 hours’ worth of wages for hourly workers and 25% of one month’s wage for monthly paid workers.
Accurately estimate your costs when employing in Guinea in 2023. Includes base salary, dependents, benefits, taxes, social contributions, and payroll costs. Monthly or yearly calculation period.
13th / 14th Month Salary: Yes. There is no statutory requirement to pay the 13th or 14th month salary. However after a year of service employees receive a National Independence Bonus which equates to 15 days of salary payable before 12 October. The employees also get 15 days of salary for a Christmas bonus payable before 24 December.
Visas are required for entry into Guinea, even for people who are considered residents. At foreign consulates and Embassies of Guinea, visas can be obtained. Visas are not required for entry into Guinea for nationals of ECOWAS member nations or some other nations with whom Guinea has signed special agreements (Communauté Économique des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, or CEAO).
For first admission into Guinea, a short-term permit is given out. This permit’s validity spans from one day to a maximum of three months. No visa entitles a holder to employment. It is necessary to get a work permit that has been approved by the national employment and labor agency (AGUIPE). Guinea does not require a work permit for citizens of ECOWAS member nations.
A letter from a potential employer outlining the reasons the applicant is being employed is used to seek an initial work permit. Four copies of the expatriate employment contract, two photos of identification, hotel reservations or an invitation letter, and a return airline ticket must be included with it. The Guinean government takes into account a person’s expected compliance with the country’s rules and regulations as well as the benefits of their presence when evaluating employment and residency visa applications. After obtaining a permission, the candidate is free to switch jobs. In Guinea, foreign nationals are permitted to own enterprises. Foreign businesses may also establish subsidiaries run by foreigners.
According to the legislation, these benefits are required. These consist of the probationary term, yearly leave, federal holidays, sick leave, maternity leave, overtime pay, notice period, and severance compensation. Social Security payouts are statutory benefits as well.
The work week in Guinea is 48 hours.
The employer can unilaterally impose overtime on worker, up to the limit of 100 hours per year. Beyond the 100th hour, the employer must obtain an authorization from the Labor Inspector to perform overtime. Overtime work entitle the worker to financial compensation on top their salary. This increase shall be of 30% for the first 4 hours, and of 60% after it.
Employers may terminate employees for “personal reasons” including ineptitude, ill health, or misconduct. The employer must summon the employee to an interview with at least 5 days’ notice by registered letter and must include the reasons for wanting to dismiss the employee. The employer must wait 2 days after the interview before dismissing the employee. Such dismissal must be made by hand-delivered letter within three days of the interview. Reductions in staff due to economic reasons must go through the trade union. Unless the employee is dismissed for serious misconduct, she or he is entitled to the following notice on dismissal:
- operational staff: 2 weeks
- supervisors and foremen: 1 month
- middle managers and similar: 3 months
- At the expiration of a fixed-term contract, the employee is eligible for severance pay of 5% of the total wages for the contracted period.
Employees under an indefinite term contract who have completed at least 12 months of service are generally entitled to receive severance pay of at least 50 hours’ worth of wages for hourly workers and 25% of one month’s wage for monthly paid workers.
Unless the employee is dismissed for serious misconduct, she or he is entitled to the following notice on dismissal:
- operational staff: 2 weeks
- supervisors and foremen: 1 month
- middle managers and similar: 3 months
Guinean residents are required to pay tax on their international income. Only income from sources in Guinea is subject to taxation for non-residents. All compensation received, including wages, benefits in kind and benefits in cash, treatments, indemnities, allowances, premiums, and bonuses are often considered to be taxable income. On their global income from professional and commercial activities, self-employed residents are generally liable to general income tax. On income earned from activities carried out in Guinea, self-employed non-residents are liable to general income tax. The sum of all net income from all categories is taxable income.
Employment Income Tax
Taxable Income Rate (%)
0 to 1,000,000 0
1,000,000 to 5,000,000 5
5,000,000 to 10,000,000 10
10,000,000 to 20,000,000 15
20,000,000 and above 20
General Income Tax
Taxable Income Rate (%)
0 to 100,000 0
100,000 to 1,000,000 10
1,000,000 to 1,500,000 15
1,500,000 to 3,000,000 20
3,000,000 to 6,000,000 25
6,000,000 to 10,000,000 30
10,000,000 to 20,000,000 35
20,000,000 and above 40
Contributions are levied on total remuneration paid, up to a monthly ceiling of GNF2,500,000. Employees’ contributions are withheld monthly by employers.
Contribution Employee Employer
Family allowances 6% –
Industrial accidents 4% –
Medical expense and disability 4% 2.5%
Old age pensions and death benefits 4% 2.5%
The standard VAT rate is 18%. A zero rate is applicable for exports and international carriage.