To expand your workforce in Haiti, discover the local mandatory benefits and perks that attract the country’s top talent. 

Haiti is known for its exquisite coastline and vibrant culture. For businesses, the Caribbean country offers a free market economy and excludes tariffs on certain exports. The U.S. remains one of Haiti’s major trade partners, and its four ports, including Port-au-Prince and St. Marc, encourage trade and the development of essential infrastructure. 

Based on data from the World Bank, Haiti’s GDP reached $19.85 billion in 2023. Agriculture, manufacturing, and vetiver oil production contributed to the fairly high GDP. In 2023, Haiti’s vetiver oil exports reached $28.4 billion and are expected to grow by 1.8% in the next couple of years. 

If you’re thinking of doing business in Haiti, you can benefit from affordable labor costs and opportunities in the emerging markets of energy, construction, and food processing.

To help you establish a skilled workforce in Haiti, protect your business and your employees by getting to know the Haitian labor laws. The legislation guides employers on employment contracts, the social security system, and employee benefits in Haiti. 

Remaining compliant with the law prevents penalties such as fines or labor court sanctions. Furthermore, providing employee benefits can attract top talent to make establishing your international team easier. 

This guide looks at labor law, statutory employee benefits, supplementary perks, and how hiring an Employer of Record, or EOR, in Haiti will keep you compliant. 

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Haiti Employment Laws

The Haitian Labor Code provides a detailed outline of the country’s labor legislation. This code covers employee rights, minimum wages, working hours, annual paid leave, and social security regulations. A closer look at Haiti’s employment laws can assist businesses with compliance. 

Social Security Regulations

The social security program covers pension funds, disability benefits, and maternity or illness benefits. 

The National Social Security Office (ONAS) in Haiti oversees social security contributions in Haiti. Both employers and employees contribute to the scheme; however, additional payments must be made for maternity leave benefits, sickness insurance, and occupational health and safety based on the industry. 

Safe Working Conditions

The Haiti labor law does not have a specific Occupational Health and Safety Act but does cover safe working conditions under the Labor Code. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide the workforce with health and safety training, protective gear, and risk assessments. 

Termination of Employment

Based on Haitian labor law, employers must provide notice to employees who have worked for three months or longer. The notice period is based on the individual’s length of service; for instance, an employee who has worked for 12 months must receive 15 days’ notice. 

Minimum Wage

The minimum wage is paid in the local currency, Haitian Gourdes (HTG), and differs based on the industry. Industries are placed into segments, each representing a different daily wage. Several segments are listed below: 

SegmentDaily Minimum Wage (HTG)
Domestic Workers350
Segment A: Telecommunications and Financial Services770
Segment B: Agriculture615
Segment C: Small Businesses540

How Legal Counsel Can Keep You Compliant with Haiti Labor Law

The safest way to protect your business in Haiti is with professional legal assistance. Labor law experts can guide you through employment legislation and update you on reforms, so you always remain compliant. 

Partnering with a professional EOR in Haiti is an effective solution because the third-party service provider acts as the legal employer of your workforce to comply with local laws. In addition to compliance, a Haitian EOR manages payroll, taxes, onboarding, and employee benefits. 

Mandatory Employee Benefits in Haiti 

To protect the rights of all employees in Haiti, employers must include mandatory benefits in the employment contract. These benefits include paid leave, working hours, and overtime pay. A look at the employee benefits in Haiti will keep you compliant and ensure that you satisfy your workforce’s professional needs.  

Social Security Contributions

Employers contribute 6%, and employees pay 6% of their gross earnings to the social security fund. Self-employed persons contribute 12% of their declared income. 

Employers contribute an additional 2%-6% toward health insurance, whereas employees contribute 3%. Health insurance for public and private sector employees is covered by the Office d’Assurance Accident du Travail, Maladie et Maternite (OFATMA). 

Annual Paid Leave

In Haiti, 15 days of annual paid leave are awarded to permanent employees who have worked for the same company for a year. Employees with inconsistent work records will receive paid annual leave, but it will be based on the number of days they have worked divided by 30. This calculation includes public holidays and Sundays. 

The law does not allow for cumulative leave unless otherwise specified by the Directorate of Labor within the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST). 

Working Hours

Haitian employees work eight hours a day, Monday to Friday, but some employers grant a six-day workweek. 

Overtime Pay

Overtime rates in Haiti are recognized as any hours outside of a 48-hour workweek according to Haitian labor law. Compensation for employees is 150% of their standard hourly wage. It is important to note that overtime cannot exceed three hours per day, and work performed at night requires extra compensation. 

Bonus Pay

In Haiti, it is mandatory to pay a 13th-month bonus over the December holiday period that is equivalent to one month’s salary. 

Haitian workers receive paid leave for public holidays except for holidays that fall on a weekend. Several holidays are listed below: 

  • January 1, 2025: New Year’s Day
  • January 2, 2025: Ancestor’s Day
  • March 5, 2025: Ash Wednesday
  • April 18, 2025: Good Friday
  • May 1, 2025: Labor Day
  • October 17, 2025: Dessalines Day
  • November 17, 2025: All Souls’ Day
  • December 25, 2025: Christmas Day

Paid sick leave of 15 days per year is only available to employees who have completed their probation periods. Employees will receive their full standard salary for this period, and it must be covered by the employer. 

Maternity Leave

Pregnant employees in Haiti must receive 12 weeks of fully paid leave. Leave must be taken six weeks before childbirth and six weeks after. 

Paternity Leave

There is no legal requirement for paternity leave in Haiti; however, employers can offer paternity leave as an employee benefit through collective bargaining. 

Severance Pay

An employer who terminates the employment contract without cause must provide the employee severance pay. Only cases involving misconduct or employee resignation are not subject to severance pay in Haiti. 

An employee’s length of service determines their severance pay. For employees who have worked for three to 12 months, severance is 50% of the regular wage. Employees working for longer than one year receive one month’s severance pay. 

Supplementary Employee Benefits in Haiti

Employers offering their workforce supplementary benefits easily attract the most talented employees, building a strong and competitive workforce. Supplementary employee benefits in Haiti make workers feel valued, which appeals to new hires and improves retention rates and workplace morale. 

To help you hire the best Haitian team, the non-mandatory employee perks are covered below: 

  • Private Health Insurance: Private health insurance is an attractive supplementary benefit. Private medical care may include dental cover or broader medical insurance to help employees with rapid treatment. 
  • Additional Leave: Employers can issue extra leave, such as paid time off for bereavement, family leave, and paternity leave. 
  • Flexible Work Schedules: Employees must work 48 hours per week, but employers can allow remote work or six-day workweeks to accommodate the needs of their labor force. 

Optimize Employee Benefits with Remote People

Despite the political challenges that Haiti has faced, the country has shown promise in its economic and employment sectors over the last few years. 

To hire a workforce in Haiti, foreign businesses should adhere to the local Labor Code. This means that mandatory employee benefits must be included in the employment contract to protect your workers’ rights. In addition to statutory benefits, non-mandatory perks will attract the most talented employees and improve retention rates. 

To expand your company in Haiti, a professional EOR can be of tremendous help. A Haitian EOR keeps you compliant and updated on labor laws and will handle processes such as onboarding, offboarding, and drafting employment contracts. 

For adherence to labor regulations, while optimizing employee benefits, you can rely on Remote People’s EOR services. Remote People is experienced in compliance, calculating and administering benefits, and facilitating payroll in Haiti. 

With guaranteed adherence to legal requirements and the provision of competitive benefits, Remote People can significantly reduce your company’s risk while helping you build a high-performance Haitian workforce. Take the time to contact Remote People for leading labor and employee benefits solutions you can trust.