The remote work approach has gained momentum in the last few years, and most employers and employees have embraced it. It has proved to have immense benefits, from reducing cost, increasing employee productivity, improving work-life balance, and allowing access to a broader pool of talents. African countries such as Burkina Faso have gradually adopted remote work, as it's one of the best places to access the best global talent.

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in the West African region, and its capital city is Ouagadougou. Its population is approximately 22.3 million, and it uses the West African CFA Franc as its currency. While Burkina Faso’s economy depends mainly on agriculture, some Burkinabe have mastered other skills the remote employer can hire. They include business management, virtual assistance, graphic design, sales, nursing, etc.

How Can Employers Find a Remote Employee or Contractor to Work in Burkina Faso?

One of the crucial aspects employers ought to understand when hiring remote workers in other countries is employment laws or policies. Like other countries, Burkina Faso has labour and employment laws that stipulate how hiring should be conducted. Additionally, being a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank, the United Nations and the West African Monetary and Economic Union (UMEOA) makes it easy for employers to access the labour market or expand businesses.

A Glance view of Burkina Faso’s Local and Employment Laws

First, the law requires that all contracts be signed by both parties and be in writing in the official local language, French. Employment laws further suggest that a single fixed-term contract for locals cannot exceed two years. More importantly, employment contracts should outline terms of employee compensation, benefits, and termination requirements.

Notably probation period shouldn’t exceed three months, and termination notice (which should be in writing) must be given at least eight days for hourly workers, a month for regular workers, and three months for senior staff before termination.

The law recommends 40 hours a week as the standard working hours in Burkina Faso, and any work beyond that is termed as overtime and needs to be paid at a 15% to 120% rate of the agreed wage.

Lastly, employees must contribute 5.5% of their salary to social security, and employers contribute 16%. Employers are also subject to a payroll tax at a 3.3% rate.

Now, let’s explore two ways employers can hire remote workers (full-time employees and contractors) in Burkina Faso.

A. Set up a subsidiary in Burkina Faso

One of the easiest ways to find remote workers in Burkina Faso is by setting up a subsidiary that enables employers to access the local labour market in Burkina Faso. It means an employer establishes a physical entity of their company in the country they wish to hire. It’s also worth noting that this process involves other paperwork requirements, such as business registration and opening a local bank account. Above all, employers cannot ignore compliance with local requirements and setting up a local payroll to pay employees.

While setting up a subsidiary gives employers tax advantages/benefits and access to new business opportunities, it also poses some significant downsides. One of the major drawbacks of subsidiaries is that they’re expensive to set up and involve a complex and time-consuming paperwork process. It also comes with an increased cost of purchasing or renting property.

So, what is a better alternative to subsidiaries when hiring remote employees and independent contractors in Burkina Faso?

B. Work with an Employer of Record (EOR)

Employers who find setting up a subsidiary unsuitable should consider partnering with an EOR service provider to hire remote employees and contractors in Burkina Faso. What does an EOR do? EOR, such as Workpay, is a global employment service provider that helps businesses employ people legally on their behalf without the need to establish entities in other countries. In brief, it’s a third-party company that takes care of the contract of employee management, including payroll management, taxes, and administrative operations.

What are the potential benefits of working with an EOR provider to employers who want to hire overseas? It’s cost-effective, saves time, facilitates legal payroll management abroad, and facilitates employee onboarding. Above all, employers don’t have to deal with legal complexities and paperwork that result from hiring directly or setting up a subsidiary.

What are the Benefits of Employing a Remote Workforce?

1. Reduced office overheads

Businesses often try to manage their unavoidable business costs, such as electricity bills, taxes, cleaning services, and food. With remote work, employers can significantly cut costs without radically restructuring a company.

2. Access to a larger talent pool

One of the powerful aspects of remote work is that it easily gives both small and large companies opportunities to access the best talents worldwide. Gone are when employers were limited to hiring people only within their geographical area. Additionally, with a remote workforce, employees can easily address the issue of diversity, equity, and inclusion within their businesses.

3. Increased employee productivity

A study showed that employees with better schedule flexibility were 29% more productive than their office counterparts. Further, statistics show that 40% of employees work about 48.5 minutes longer at home than at work. Having productive employees puts a business on a path of growth.

4. Increased employees satisfaction and employee retention

One of the issues businesses struggle with is employee satisfaction, which leads to low employee retention. However, remote work supports employee satisfaction because it gives them more flexibility and increases their happiness. A recent survey found that the ability to work remotely increases employee happiness by as much as 20%.

Subsequently, employee satisfaction increases employee retention.

Bottom line

Are you an employer looking to hire remote employees or independent contractors in Burkina Faso? Workpay is your Employer of Record of choice to help you navigate through Burkina Faso’s local employment and tax laws. Workpay helps you to smoothly onboard remote workers and process a locally compliant payroll.