Work conditions in Gabon

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

Art. 165 of the Labour code states that the legal employment’s duration is forty hours per week.
For agricultural enterprises, the employment hours duration is calculated by year, with a maximum of 2,400 hours.
A rest day per week is mandatory, and it has to consist of at least 24 consecutive hours.

Retirement Age

60 years old. 55 years old in certain sectors of activity.

Working Contracts

According to art. 19 of the Labour Code, employment contracts can be either oral or written. In case a working contract is in written, it is exempted from stamp duties.
Working contracts can be concluded for a fixed term, opened ended or for a specific task. An employment contract must be in written if it is concluded for a fixed term (maximum two years) or for a specific task (art. 23 and 25).

Labour Laws

Consult the Labour Code, to obtain a summary of the labour regulations that apply in Gabon

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

The national monthly minimum wage is FCFA 150,000 (approx. USD 245), as established by the Ministry of Labor and Employment, with the last adjustment taking place in 2010.

Average Wage

The average monthly salary in Gabon is often reported to be around 300,000 CFA francs (approximately 500 USD).

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 20.1% of covered earnings.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: 4.5% of covered earnings.

Social Partners

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

Workers have the formal right to join unions, engage in collective bargaining, and strike under certain circumstances. However, since 2017 the government reduced the trade unions’ freedom following a strike of the teachers’ union CONASYSED (which was also barred from conducting any activities due to an allegation of disturbance to the public order). It has also been reported that the police used excessive force to disperse striking oil workers as well as students demonstrating in support of the striking teachers. Furthermore, another strike from the workers of the oil sector had suspended after the government’s intervention.

Labour Unions

Gabonese Trade Union Confederation (COSYGA)
Gabonese Confederation of Free Trade Unions (CGSL)

Unionisation Rate

N/A

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Labour