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Undoubtedly, payroll is a critical aspect of 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.

There is no explicit legal requirement for the payroll frequency in Gabon. However, it is customary to process payroll on a monthly or bi-weekly basis.

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

The minimum wage in Gabon is currently 150,000 CFA francs per month ($225).

Any hours worked beyond the standard 40 hours qualify as overtime and must be compensated by the employer. 

There's a maximum limit of 20 overtime hours per week. This applies in specific situations like urgent or seasonal work, high workload, or staffing shortages.

There isn't a central law in Gabon specifically outlining data retention policies for private sector employees.

In Gabon, there are no specific hiring preferences laws. However, discrimination laws are governed by the Gabonese constitution and labor laws, which emphasize the right of all citizens to obtain employment without discrimination based on factors such as color, race, sex, political opinion, religion, natural ascendance, or social origins. 

Different employers may have different preferences when hiring employees. However, some common things they look for include:

• Being good at English or other languages, especially if the company deals with international partners.
• Having experience that relates to the job or the industry.
• Having the right education and qualifications, like a degree from a good school.

When joining an organization in Gabon, employees commonly need to submit the following documents:

• Employment Contract
• Work Permit Application: For foreign nationals
• Residence Card and Work Visa
• Payment Slips
• Passport
• Photographs

In Gabon, the probation period for private sector employees is set to six months.

The statutory public holidays in Gabon for the year 2024 are as follows:

• 1 January - New Year's Day
• 1 April -Easter Monday
• 10 April -Eid al-Fitr
• 17 April - Women's Day
• 1 May - Labour Day
• 9 May - Ascension Day
• 20 May - Whit Monday
• 16 June - Eid al-Adha
• 15 August - Assumption Day
• 16 August - National Day
• 17 August - National Day
• 1 November - All Saints' Day
• 25 December - Christmas Day

All employees in Gabon are entitled to a minimum of 24 days of paid annual leave per year. This leave accrues at a rate of 2 days per month worked. 

Employees in Gabon are entitled to up to 6 months of paid sick leave. 

The duration of the benefit depends on the worker's length of service:

• 15 days for less than one year
• 1 month for 1 to 3 years
• 2 months for 3 to 5 years
• 3 months for 5 to 10 years
• 4 months for 10 to 15 years
• 5 months for 15 to 20 years
• 6 months for 20 to 30 years
• Plus 10 extra days for each additional year after 30 years of service.

Female employees are generally entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave; 6 weeks of leave prior to the birth and 8 weeks after.

Employees in Gabon may be entitled to 10 days of paid leave for family events. This leave is typically used for events such as the birth or adoption of a child, the death of a family member, or the serious illness of a family member.

In Gabon, termination and offboarding requirements are governed by the Labor Code, which outlines the rights and obligations of both employers and employees. Here are the key points regarding termination and offboarding in Gabon:

Termination Procedure: The termination of employment in Gabon can occur for various reasons, including redundancy, disciplinary issues, mutual agreement, or expiration of a fixed-term contract. However, termination based on discriminatory grounds such as race, gender, or religion is strictly prohibited by law. Employers must follow legal procedures and provide valid reasons for termination to avoid potential disputes or legal action.

Severance Pay: In cases where termination is not due to gross misconduct, employees are entitled to severance pay. The amount of severance pay is typically determined by the length of service and may be specified in the employment contract or collective bargaining agreement.

The notice period for private sector employees in Gabon is determined by their length of service, according to the Labor Code:

• Less than 1 year of service: 15 days notice
• 1 to 3 years of service: 1 month notice
• 3 to 5 years of service: 2 months notice
• 5 to 10 years of service: 3 months notice
• 10 to 15 years of service: 4 months notice
• 15 to 20 years of service: 5 months notice
• 20 to 30 years of service: 6 months notice
• For employees with more than 30 years of service, the notice period increases by 10 days for each additional year.

In Gabon, the severance pay for private sector employees is determined by the length of service and the reason for termination. According to the law, employees are entitled to severance pay after completing 2 years of service, with the amount varying based on the years of service:

• 0.4 months of pay after 2 years of employment
• 0.8 months of pay after 4 years of employment
• 1 month of pay after 5 years of service
• 2 months of pay after 10 years of service
• 4 months of pay after 20 years of service

Preparation and Documentation: Before applying for a work permit, the employer must prepare all necessary documents. These include:

• A valid passport for the employee.
• Seven passport photos.
• Two copies of the employment contract.
• Two copies of the Tax ID card.
• Two copies of academic qualifications (e.g., university degrees).
• A copy of the commercial register from the employer.
• Licenses are required for practicing the profession.
• A letter from the employer detailing why it was necessary to hire a foreigner.
• Approval from the relevant authority related to the profession.
• A representative from the employer who will sponsor the work permit.
• A negative HIV test.
• Approval from the State Security organ in Gabon 1.

The legal background checks for new hire employees in Gabon are not explicitly detailed in the provided sources. However, based on the general hiring process and legal requirements in Gabon, it can be inferred that employers are likely to conduct background checks as part of their recruitment process. These checks may include :

• Verifying the candidate's identity
• Employment history
• Educational qualifications
• Criminal records depend on the nature of the job and the company's policies.