Lebanon (GMT+3)

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

The payroll frequency in Lebanon is typically monthly.  

There is no statutory requirement to pay the 13th or the 14th month salary. There is no evidence that bonuses are customary.

The minimum wage is 675,000 LBP. The basic salary should be fully enrolled in the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and Ministry of Finance. 

A normal working day should be 8 hours a day and 48 hours per week. Overtime is paid for excess hours above 48 working hours per week on the basis of 50% extra payment. 

Data privacy is protected in a general manner by the Penal Code, which makes it a criminal offense to use or disclose individuals' personal data without their consent. Under the Civil Code, an individual whose rights are breached in this way may bring a court case seeking compensation/damages and/or an order to end the infringement. There is no specific legislation on data protection in the employment context but the Penal Code's provisions indicate that employers can collect and use personal data only with the consent of the employee or job applicant concerned. 

Record keeping, rules and regulations 

Employers that employ at least five employees must (under the Labour Law) keep a file for each employee, stating their name, occupation, age, nationality, address, marital status, date of employment, wages (and any adjustments to them), any disciplinary sanctions penalties imposed, and occupational injuries and diseases sustained, and the date of and reasons for termination of employment. The file must include a leave card, a recording of annual leave, sick leave and other leave taken.

Employers that employ at least 15 employees must keep at every workplace:

• A payroll record stating for all employees the date employment started and ended, the days worked, the amount of daily, weekly or monthly wages paid, fringe benefits and any piecework or commission payments 

• A record of all occupational injuries and diseases sustained 

• “Basic work regulations”, approved by the public labor authorities and displayed prominently, stating the daily working hours, the weekly rest period, public holidays, and the measures and precautions taken for the prevention of occupational injuries and fire hazards 

• Disciplinary rules, approved by the public labor authorities and displayed prominently, stating the applicable disciplinary offenses and sanctions.

In order to hire employees in Lebanon, businesses need to either establish a legal presence there or partner with a local employment agency. Managing payroll, benefits, taxes and new hire onboarding in a foreign country like Lebanon can be difficult if the appropriate procedures are not established from the start, especially in the absence of localized experience.

Hiring foreigners in Lebanon 

Foreign nationals living in Lebanon are legally allowed to work in the country so long as they obtain approval from the Ministry of Labor and are granted a Work Permit. 

The maximum probationary period is 3 months. 

Under the Holidays Act, employers are required to provide paid time off to employees for the following public holidays: 

• 1 Jan - Sunday New Year Public Holiday 
• 6 Jan - Friday Orthodox Christmas Public Holiday 
• 9 Feb - Thursday St Maron's Day Public Holiday 
• 14 Feb - Tuesday Commemoration of the Assassination of PM Rafic Hariri Public Holiday 
• 25 Mar - Saturday Feast of the Annunciation Public Holiday 
• 7 Apr - Friday Good Friday Public Holiday 
• 10 Apr - Monday Easter Monday Government Holiday 
• 14 Apr - Friday Orthodox Good Friday Public Holiday 
• 16 Apr - Sunday Orthodox Easter Day Public Holiday 
• 17 Apr - Monday Orthodox Easter Monday Government Holiday 
• 21 Apr - Friday Eid al-Fitr Public Holiday 
• 22 Apr - Saturday Eid ul Fitr Holiday Public Holiday 
• 1 May - Monday Labor Day Public Holiday 
• 7 May - Sunday Martyr's Day Public Holiday 
• 7 May - Sunday Liberation and Resistance Holiday Public Holiday 
• 28 Jun - Wednesday Eid al-Adha Public Holiday
• 29 Jun - Thursday Eid al-Adha Holiday Public Holiday 
• 30 Jun - Friday Eid al-Adha Holiday Public Holiday 
• 19 Jul - Wednesday Muharram (Tentative Date) Public Holiday 
• 28 Jul - Friday Ashoura (Tentative Date) Public Holiday 
• 15 Aug - Tuesday Assumption of Mary Public Holiday 
• 27 Sep - Wednesday The Prophet's Birthday (Tentative Date) Public Holiday 
• 22 Nov - Wednesday Independence Day Public Holiday 
• 25 Dec - Monday Christmas Day Public Holiday" 

Annual Leave in Lebanon

• 15 days from 1 (completed year) till five  years of employment
• 17 days from five till ten years of employment
• 19 days from 10 till 15 years of employment
• 21 days for More than 15 years

Lebanese law currently allows women to take up to 10 weeks of paid maternity leave 

Male employees are entitled to 3 days of paternity leave 

Entitlement to sick leave depends on the length of service. It goes as follows: 

• Between three months and two years of service: Half a month on full pay and half a month on half pay 
• Between two and four years: One month on full pay and one month on half pay 
• Between four and six years: One and a half months on full pay and one month and a half pay 
• Between six and ten years: Two months on full pay and two months on half pay 
• More than ten years: Two and a half months on full pay and two and a half months on half pay. 

Bereavement leave 

• Employees are granted a paid leave of up to two days in the event of the death of a first-level relative (father, mother, spouse, child, grandchild, sister, brother, grandfather or grandmother) with full pay.
• Employees are granted a paid leave of up to 1 day in the event of the death of a 2nd level relative (uncle, aunt, cousin, niece, nephew, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, father-in-law, or mother-in-law).
• Proof document (obituary paper) should be provided to the HR department when the employee resumes work.

Marriage leave 

Employees are granted a one-week paid leave for their marriage, and this is only for “one time” during their employment with the company. 

The length of notice is specified by law and cannot be reduced. It varies with the length of the employee’s employment: 

• Under three years: One-month prior notice.  
• Three years to six years: Two months’ prior notice.  
• Six years to twelve years: Three months’ prior notice.  
• Over twelve years: Four months’ prior notice.  

The pay to be taken for the assessment of indemnities referred to is the last one paid before dismissal for the dismissal advance notice. 

Pay is understood to be the basic remuneration calculated at the time and encashed by the employee as well as the allowances and commissions added to the basic pay. 

If pay was calculated in whole or in part on the basis of commission, account shall be taken of the average sum actually encashed by the employee during the twelve-month period before dismissal. 

Lebanon Immigration System 

All expatriates working in Lebanon must have a work permit and a residence permit. Such permits may be issued only at the request of an employer. To obtain a work permit, the following items must be submitted:

• A special work permit application completed and signed by the applicant and the employer.
• A list of the names of the foreign employees (if any) at the office of the employer that must be signed and sealed by the employer
• The address of the employer
• The passport or the identity card of the expatriate. The Minister of Labor retains a photocopy of this document.
• A medical report evidencing that the expatriate is free from epidemic diseases.
• A photocopy of the employer’s registration in Lebanon.
• A list of authorized signatures of the employer.
• A certified copy of the employment contract entered into between the employer and the expatriate.
• -A quittance (discharge or clearance certificate) issued by the Social Security National Fund.

Lebanon Criminal Records Search  

Requirements: Name, DOB, Current Address, copy of passport or ID (USA DL is acceptable), Release 

The nationwide criminal record search in Lebanon is conducted through the Ministry of Interior. This search will report back felony-level convictions in the past seven years. The Report may include case type, file date, file location, case number, charge information, disposition information, and sentencing information. 

Employment Verification in Lebanon  

Requirements: Name, date of birth, employer name and contact information, dates of employment, position held and release form 

Past employment verification is recommended for all employees. It is approximated that 40% of all resumes and employment applications contain falsified information. Our standard Employment Verification reports the employer’s name, subject’s title, dates of employment, and whether they are eligible for rehire, and we ask for additional comments.