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Undoubtedly, payroll is a critical aspect of any organization. The Pay cycle is a notable feature of it that provides a sense of accountability for an employee to be paid consistently for their work.

Employees in Liberia are paid at least once every month.

There is no statutory requirement to pay the 13th or the 14th month salary.

All formal sector (concession, industry, business, company, etc.)  employees are entitled to a minimum wage of US $5.50 per day, or US $0.68 per hour, while domestic and casual workers are entitled to a minimum wage of US $3.50 per day, or US $0.43 per hour.

Employers can require employees to work up to five extra hours per week, with any overtime paid at least 50% above the normal rate. Alternatively, employees and employers can agree in writing to compensate overtime with extra paid time off at the regular rate of remuneration.

Every person with a tax obligation should maintain books and records in English language and must be retained for 7 years after the end of the tax period to which they relate.

When hiring candidates in Liberia, employers typically use employment contracts to formalize the terms and conditions of employment. These contracts outline important details such as:

• Job Title and Responsibilities
• Compensation
• Duration of Employment
• Work Schedule
• Termination Conditions
• Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements

The required employee onboarding documents typically include:

• Personal Identification
• Tax Forms
• Employment Contract
• Banking Details
• Emergency Contact Information
• Work Permit (for foreign employees)
• Social Security Documentation

An employment agreement can ask the employee to serve a probation period, but it can't be longer than three months.

Liberia provides for 11 public holidays.

The following days are statutory public holidays in Liberia:

• January 1 -  New Year’s Day
• February 11 - Armed Forces Day
• March 12 - National Decoration Day
• March 15 - Joseph Jenkins Roberts' Birthday
• April 11 - Fast and Prayer Day
• May 14 - National Unification Day
• July 26 - Independence Day
• August 24 - National Flag Day
• First Thursday of November- Thanksgiving
• November 29 - William V.S. Tubman's Birthday
• December 25 - Christmas Day

Every employee, is entitled to a minimum uninterrupted annual leave period

• 1 week's worth of working days for 12 months of continuous service, 
• 2 weeks for the first 24 months
• 3 weeks for continuous service of 36 months
• and 4 weeks for continuous service of 60 months and beyond.

Every employee is entitled to ten days’ paid sick leave for every year of continuous service with their employer. An employee on paid sick leave is entitled to receive their usual remuneration for that day as if they had worked.

Employees are guaranteed a minimum of 14 weeks of maternity leave, with at least 6 weeks required to be taken after the date of confinement. An employed woman is entitled to receive her regular pay for her normal working hours during maternity leave from her employer.

If a medical practitioner certifies that extending maternity leave is necessary for the health of the employed woman or her child due to pregnancy or delivery complications, the employer must grant up to one month of unpaid extended maternity leave, in addition to any other entitled leave.

The employed father is entitled to 5 days of unpaid leave following the birth of his child, which must be taken within the first month after the birth, except in exceptional circumstances and not before the mother's confinement. If a man has multiple wives, he cannot take leave for children born to more than one wife and must inform his employer which wife is relevant for this entitlement.

Every employee receives five days of paid leave annually to care for an immediate family member due to their illness, injury, or in the event of an unexpected emergency.

Employees are entitled to  5 days’ paid leave in any year of service with their employer upon the death of an immediate family member. This entitlement does not accumulate over time with the employer, and any unused leave under this provision at the end of employment is not payable.

Employers have the right to immediately terminate an employee's employment for grave misconduct. This termination can occur regardless of whether the employment was for a definite or indefinite period in case of  substance abuse in the workplace, breaching fundamental rights, sexual harassment, violence or threats towards colleagues or the employer, destruction of property, endangering safety, prolonged unexplained absences.

Indefinitely employed workers can be terminated for just cause, based on their ability to perform their job according to their contract, collective agreements, or relevant regulations, or due to their conduct at work or related circumstances, due to operational requirements or for any reason of redundancy.

After completing probation, employees must be given reasonable notice before termination.

• 1 week, where employee's continuous service is less than 3 months.
• 2 weeks, where employee's continuous service is between 3 to 6 months.
• 3 weeks, where employee's continuous service is between 6 to 12 months.
• 4 weeks, where employee's continuous service is more than 1 year.

An employee whose employment is terminated because of economic reasons is entitled to 4 weeks of severance pay for each completed year of service.

Individuals from countries outside the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) need a visa to enter Liberia.

To work in Liberia, foreign nationals typically must provide certain documents when applying for a visa:

• A valid passport with one blank page and at least six months of validity
• Two recent passport photos
• A completed and signed visa application form
• Proof of medical insurance for the duration of their stay
• Evidence of financial means
• Travel accommodations proof, such as a flight itinerary
• Proof of accommodations in Liberia
• A yellow fever immunization certificate
• A letter from their employer in Liberia, signed by a company representative, detailing employment terms

Additionally, employees need a Liberian work permit, which requires:

• A filled-out application form
• An employment offer from a Liberian company
• A cover letter from the employer
• Two passport photos
• A bank statement from the employer
• A background check from the employee's home country
• Professional qualifications.

The work permit is valid for 1 year.

In Liberia, employee background verification involves various checks to ensure suitability and uphold workplace integrity. This includes confirming previous employment details such as organization name, positions held, dates of employment, and work performance. Background screening services are utilized to thoroughly vet candidates  to verify whether a candidate has any criminal history that could jeopardize the company or its employees. Additionally, professional license or certificate checks verify credentials, including relevant details such as license type and issue dates. Conducting these checks ethically and in compliance with legal regulations is crucial for employers to make informed hiring decisions and protect both their company and employees.