Work conditions in Benin

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

The legal number of working hours is 2400 hours of work per year for agricultural workers, and 40 hours per week for other workers. (art. 142-143 of the Labour Code).

Retirement Age

Age 60 (55 for early pension) with at least 180 months of coverage.

Working Contracts

According to the Labour Code of 1998, working contracts can be either in writing or oral.
Determined time contracts which last more than a month must be in written, they cannot exceed 2 years and can be renewed only once.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises. Consult the Labour Code of 1998, to obtain a summary of the labour regulations that apply in Benin (in French)

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

Benin has a government-mandated minimum wage (art. 210 of the Labour Code), currently set at XOF 40,000.

Average Wage

Salaries in Benin differ significantly between different jobs. Visit VotreSalaire.org or Paylab to consult the average wages for the type of profession.

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: The employer contributes 15.4% (6.4% pensions and a 9% family allowance) of gross monthtly salary, plus 1 to 4% of industrial injury insurance, depending on the degree of risk in the employment.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: The employee contributes 3.6% of gross monthly salary for social security.

Social Partners

Employer Associations

TCCI - Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Tripoli
LIU - Libyan Industry Union

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

The constitution of Benin recognizes the right of workers to form and join unions, as well as the right of strike. Furthermore, the Labour Code also grants the right to bargain collectively and stipulates that collective agreements in the private sector can be signed for a determined (up to 5 years) or undetermined period. Although unions should operate independently of government and political parties, in practice it is not always so.
Government authorities may declare strikes illegal if they are deemed a threat to public order or the economy and may require those on strike to maintain minimum services. In September 2018, the government of Benin passed a law limiting strikes to a maximum of 10 days per year for private-sector workers and public employees (except for those in the defense, health, justice, and security sectors, for which striking is prohibited).

Labour Unions

National Union of the Unions of the Workers of Benin (UNSTB)
Autonomous Trade Unions Centre (CSA)
General Confederation of the Workers of Benin (CGTB)

Unionisation Rate

N/A (75% of the formal sector in 2005 according to the International Centre for Trade Union Rights)

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Labour