Capital: Bamako
Population: (2022 est.) 21,719,000
Monetary Unit: West African CFA franc
Language(s): French (Official Language)
West African Mali, sometimes known as the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked nation. With a total size of more than 1,240,000 square kilometres. Mali is the eighth-largest nation in Africa. Mali has a population of 21.9 million people. In 2017, it was predicted 67% of the populace was under the age of 25.
The public holidays in Mali are as follows;
- 1 Jan New Year’s Day
- 20 Jan Armed Forces Day
- 26 Mar Martyrs’ Day
- 10 Apr Easter Monday
- 22 Apr Korité
- 1 May Labour Day
- 25 May Africa Day
- 29 Jun Tabaski
- 22 Sep Independence Day
- 28 Sep Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
- 5 Oct Baptism of the Prophet
- 25 Dec Christmas Day
In Mali, the typical probationary term may run up to six months. The probationary period is equivalent to the notice time for service termination. The pay scale for a temporary post of equivalent standing is the same as the pay scale during the probationary period.
For a total of 30 calendar days each year, annual leave equates to two and a half days of accumulated work every month (working days and weekends included). This is comparable to 22 working days each year for the sake of convenience.
Female contract workers who have at least nine months of creditable employment with the company are eligible for fourteen weeks of unpaid maternity leave if they submit the required paperwork. The maximum time frames for this are six weeks prior to confinement and eight weeks thereafter.
The employee is entitled to seven days of paid paternity leave.
Employees who provide a doctor’s certificate are granted sick time.
Depending on their duration of service, employees get severance pay ranging from 20% to 30% of their monthly wage.
13th / 14th Month Pay: The payment of the wage for the thirteenth or fourteenth month is not mandated by law. However, after three years in a position, all employees are eligible for a seniority bonus.
Any individual visiting Mali must obtain a visa from one of the country’s diplomatic missions unless they’re from a visa-exempt country. Currently, citizens from 25 countries can travel to Mali without a visa. The two main types of visas include business and tourist selections with options for single-entry, multiple-entry, or stays for up to six months. It typically takes 10 days to process the visa.
Other visa options include missionary, official, and diplomatic visas. However, these are less common, and most of your employees will apply for a business visa. After obtaining one at their closest embassy or consulate, your employees will then need a work permit to legally work for your company.
Requirements to Obtain Mali Work Visas
Your employees will need a valid passport and business visa to travel to Mali. The requirements for a business visa include:
- Two original and completed visa application forms
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond the stay
- Two recent passport-size photos
- Business cover letter
- Certificate of yellow fever vaccine
- Flight itinerary
- Your company’s registration certificate and recent income tax filing
There are additional requirements to obtain a work permit in Mali. For example, you must provide a letter on your company’s letterhead detailing information about the business and your position and status in the company, as well as proof of your business’s finances. This documentation requirement is why employers often handle the work permit application process, as it must include information from you.
Your employees should apply for their visas at the embassy or consulate in their country of residence before arriving in Mali. Incomplete applications can delay the process, so individuals must ensure they complete the application and submit all the required documents. Once the process is complete, an applicant can pick up their passport at the embassy or send a prepaid self-addressed envelope for its return.
During the application process, you will need to pay a corresponding fee based on your employee’s nationality and type of visa requested. For example, US citizens owe $131 for all visa types except those designated as official or diplomatic. All other types of visas are valid for up to five years and include multiple entries.
Citizens from other countries follow this pay schedule:
- Single-entry visa valid for three months: $80
- Multiple-entry visa valid for three months: $110
- Multiple-entry visa valid for six months: $200
- Multiple-entry visa valid for one year: $370
Notable Additions
Many of your prospective employees may have pets they also want to bring to Mali. They will need a sanitary certificate from their home country dated within three days of their entrance to Mali. This document must show the pet is free of infectious diseases. Dogs will also need a certificate showing a recent rabies vaccine.
In general, termination of an employment contract in Mali is strict and must be carried out with utmost compliance with the rules and procedures. Mali labour laws regarding termination of employment are mostly in favour of the employee, and any misstep can have major consequences for the employer. In case the employer terminates a fixed-term contract, the employee is eligible for compensation.
In adherence to the employment contract law in Mali, an employment agreement in Mali may be terminated for the following reasons: expiration of the fixed term, change of employment conditions, the inability of the employee to perform the work, staff reduction or downsizing, failure to complete the probationary period in Mali, reaching pensionable age, any other grounds as laid out in the employment agreement contract.
There is no statutory law for 13th-month pay in Mali. Some of the statutory employee benefits are; paid leaves, maternity benefits, family benefits, pension.
40-hours is the typical workweek.
The rate of pay for overtime is 150%.
In the absence of collective agreements or decrees, the notice period lasts for the following lengths of time: 8 days for employees paid by the day or week; 1 month for those paid monthly; 2 months for supervisors and assimilated employees; and 3 months for executives and management.
Employee Income Tax:
Annual Taxable Income Tax rate
From 0 – 175,000 XOF 0
From 175,001 XOF to 600,000 XOF 5%
From 600,001 XOF to 1,200,000 XOF 13%
From 1,200,001 XOF to 1,800,000 XOF 20%
From 1,800,001 XOF to 2,400,000 XOF 28%
From 2,400,001 XOF to 3,500,000 XOF 34%
Above 3,500,001 XOF 40%
The corporate tax rate is applicable at 35%. Holding companies are not required to pay corporate tax in Mali.
Employees must contribute 3.6% of their pre-tax income to social security tax funds for health care and pensions, while the employer is responsible for 35% of the employee’s total wage.
Royalties and interest costs are some of the major business deductible expenditures.
3.5% of the annual revenue of the Mali taxpayer may be deducted for royalties, interest costs, and service fees paid to non-residents; however, this restriction does not apply to payments made to organizations that do not directly or indirectly participate in the management or share capital of the Mali taxpayer.
Only under the following circumstances may interest expenses on loans made directly or indirectly by shareholders be deducted: The taxpayer’s share capital is completely paid up; The total loan amount is limited to the amount of share capital; and The interest rate is limited to either the “Libor” rate as may be stated in a contract with the Malian State, raised by 2 percentage points, or, in all other circumstances, the interest rate of the Central Bank for West African Countries, increased by 3 percentage points.
VAT is levied at 18% on goods and services. The VAT registration number must be obtained within 30 days of incorporation of a subsidiary. A reduced rate of 5% is applicable on solar and IT materials
Dividends are subject to a 10% withholding tax
Interest payments are subject to withholding tax of 9%/13%/15%/18%
Royalties are subject to a withholding tax of 15%