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Popay Payroll · Benin PopayPayroll
Payroll in Benin, handled the local way.
Statutory contributions, compliant payslips, local contracts and leave — configured to local law inside our own engine.
One engine, all of Africa. Benin payroll rules run natively inside our own gross-to-net engine — monitored and kept current by our Pan-African team, not stitched from third-party aggregators.
Talk to our African payroll team No commitment — a working conversation about your team in Benin.
BJ
BJ · payroll across the continent
Understand HR in Benin
Everything Benin payroll asks of an employer — in one place.
The full local picture for Benin: statutory contributions and the rules our engine runs natively — maintained by our Pan-African legislation team.
01 · At a glance
Benin payroll, by the numbers
The fixed parameters every Benin payroll run starts from.
CAPITAL
Cotonou (seat of government) · Porto-Novo (official capital)
CURRENCY
West African CFA Franc (XOF / FCFA)
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
French
STATUTORY AUTHORITIES
DGID — Direction Générale des Impôts et des Domaines · Social security: CNSS — Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale
INCOME TAX YEAR
1 January → 31 December (calendar year)
PAYROLL CYCLE
Monthly
MONTHLY STATUTORY DEADLINE
ITS (salary tax) & VPS (employer payroll levy): by the 10th of the following month · CNSS contributions: by the 15th of the following month (monthly) or quarterly depending on workforce size
MINIMUM WAGE (SMIG)
FCFA 52,000 / month (effective 1 January 2023) — applies to all private and parapublic sectors
Ordinary working week
40 hours / week (8 hours / day)
OVERTIME
Max 15 hours / week and 75 hours / quarter · premiums from +12% to +100% depending on timing
NOTICE PERIOD
Graduated by category: 15 days (hourly) → 3 months (executives)
MINIMUM WORKING AGE/ RETIREMENT AGE
15 years (light work) / 60 years (legal retirement age) · early retirement possible at 55 with a 5% penalty per year of anticipation
MAIN LABOUR LAW
Law No. 2017-05 — Labour Code of the Republic of Benin
02 · Statutory obligations & contributions
Social contributions in Benin
Statutory contributions declared by the employer, each scheme with its own rate,
| Contribution | Employer | Employee | Basis & ceilings |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNSS Pension (old age / invalidity / death) | 6.4% | 3.6% | On gross salary. Total: 10%. CNSS ceiling: FCFA 52,000 / month. |
| Family allowances | 9% | 0% | On gross salary. Employer cost only. |
| Occupational risks (workplace accidents) | 1% to 4% | 0% | Variable rate depending on the risk classification of the business activity. Employer cost only. |
| Employer Payroll Levy (VPS / TFP) | 4% to 8% | 0% | Fiscal tax on gross wages. Rate set by annual finance laws. Also applicable to NGOs and associations. |
Note: CNSS contributions are calculated on gross salary (basic salary + salary-based bonuses and allowances), excluding expense reimbursements (transport, justified professional expenses, statutory family allowances). CNSS contribution ceiling: FCFA 52,000 / month. Source: CNSS Benin; Social Security Code (Law No. 98-019); General Tax Code (CGI) Benin.
03 · Income tax brackets (PAYE)
The PAYE brackets withheld for DGID
Tax is calculated by applying the progressive ITS bands to the net taxable income (gross salary − employee CNSS contributions).
Income Tax Bands (ITS)- Monthly
- 0 – 60,000
- 0% (tax-free)
- 60,001 – 150,000
- 10%
- 150,001 – 250,000
- 15%
- 250,001 – 500,000
- 19%
- Above 500,000
- 30%
04 · Employment contracts & termination
The contract types and the formalities that frame them
Contract types
Open-ended (CDI) · Fixed-term (CDD) · Part-time (≥20% below legal hours; written contract mandatory)
Notice — hourly-paid employees
15 days
Notice — monthly-paid employees & workers
1 month
Notice — supervisors & technicians
2 months
Notice — managers, executives & equivalent
3 months
Pay in lieu of notice
Equal to the remuneration (basic salary + benefits in kind) that would have been earned during the unworked notice period
Severance pay — 1–5 years of service
25% of average monthly salary per year of service
Severance pay — 6–10 years of service
30% of average monthly salary per year of service
Severance pay — above 10 years
35% (years 6–10) then 40% (beyond 10 years) of average monthly salary per year
05 · Leave & employee rights
Statutory minimums under the Labour Code and collective agreements.
The law sets the floor; contracts and collective agreements can add to it. Below are the statutory minimums your accruals must track.
Annual paid leave
2.5 working days / month = 30 working days / year (or 24 days under some collective agreements). Accrues from the 1st month of service. Paid at normal rate.
Seniority leave
Additional days based on length of service (e.g. 1 extra day per 5 years, per collective agreement).
Maternity leave
14 weeks (6 before + 8 after delivery). 100% of salary. Private sector: 50% employer + 50% CNSS. Requires 6 months of CNSS contributions.
Paternity leave
3 working days ("birth at home"). Paid at 100% by the employer. Guaranteed by collective agreements. Not explicitly in the Labour Code but established in practice.
Sick leave
6 to 12 months depending on seniority. Medical certificate required.
Marriage (employee)
3 days
Death (spouse / child / parent)
3 days
Birth of a child
2 days. For the birth of a child in the household.
Marriage (child / sibling)
1 day
Death (sibling / parent-in-law)
2 days
Nursing break
1 hour / day. For working mothers until the child reaches 15 months of age.
Public holidays
Fixed by official decree (annual list). Paid days off. Working on a public holiday = overtime at premium rates.
06 · Overtime
Overtime — Premium Rates
| Situation | Premium | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 41st to 48th hour / week (daytime) | +12% of the normal hourly rate | ||
| Beyond the 48th hour / week (daytime) | +35% of the normal hourly rate | ||
| Rest day (Sunday) and public holidays (daytime) | +50% of the normal hourly rate | ||
| Working days — night hours (20:00–06:00) | +50% of the normal hourly rate | ||
| Rest days and public holidays — night (20:00–06:00) | +100% of the normal hourly rate |
Note: The standard working week is 40 hours. Overtime may not exceed 15 hours/week and 75 hours/quarter (unless authorised by the Labour Inspectorate). Normal hourly rate = Gross monthly salary ÷ 173.33. Some collective agreements or company agreements may provide more favourable rates. Source: Labour Code of Benin.
Native African payroll — one accountable partner.
Compliant payslips
Statutory contributions, income tax and net pay computed and presented on a payslip built for local requirements.
We own the gross-to-net engine
Local rules are configured natively inside our engine, not stitched from third-party aggregators — one accountable system, one contract.
Talk to our Pan-African payroll team.
Tell us about your team in Benin and we'll map your options — payroll, contracts and local compliance — plainly and without commitment.
Benin payroll, answered
Do you run Benin payroll on your own engine?
Yes. Benin statutory rules are configured natively inside our own gross-to-net engine and maintained by our Pan-African legislation team.
Can you handle payslips and leave locally?
Yes — compliant payslips and statutory leave are all part of the service.
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