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Country hiring guide

Hiring in Sierra Leone πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡±

English-speaking workforce of ~8.4 million; economy centred on mining and agriculture. Employer on-costs run ~10% on top of gross salary. Here is what to know before your first Sierra Leone hire.

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Capital cityFreetown
CurrencySierra Leonean leone (SLE)
LanguagesEnglish (official); Krio, Temne, Mende
Population~8.4 million
Payroll frequencyMonthly; no statutory 13th salary
VAT standard rate15% (GST)
Employer burden*~10% of gross
TGTC flat EOR fee$499/mo Β· Tier B
Overview

Employing in Sierra Leone

Employment in Sierra Leone runs under its national labour code, which sets the floor for wages, working hours, leave, and notice. Here are the essentials before you make an offer.

Minimum wage

  • ~SLE 800/month (2023); reported rise 2026*

Payroll cycle & extra pay

  • Monthly
  • No statutory 13th salary

Public holidays

  • Paid gazetted national holidays (~12)*

Onboarding & probation

  • Probation up to 6 months
  • 7 days' notice during probation
Employer costs

What you pay on top of salary

Employer on-costs in Sierra Leone run ~10% of gross salary. Employers pay 10% of gross salary to NASSIT social security.

Employer contribution*Rate
NASSIT social security10%

Passed through at cost

These statutory costs are paid at cost on top of TGTC's flat $499/mo fee, so you always see the real employer cost, not a marked-up percentage.

Employee-side taxes

Employees pay their own income tax and social-security share, withheld at source. Under an EOR, TGTC runs that payroll withholding for you.

Types of leave

Statutory leave in Sierra Leone

Annual leave

  • 21 working days after 1 year

Maternity & parental leave

  • 14 weeks paid, employer-funded
  • 7 days' prior notice required

Sick leave

  • At least 5 days paid/year*

Other leave

  • Paternity not statutory*
Employment termination

Ending employment in Sierra Leone

Notice

  • 1 month (indefinite contracts)
  • 1 to 3 months by service

Severance

  • Paid after 1 year service; within 1 month

Probation

  • 7 days' notice or pay in lieu

Contractor risk

  • Misclassification triggers NASSIT/PAYE liabilities

*All figures are estimates from public sources (2025-26), pending ops verification - same basis as the EOR cost calculator. Not tax or legal advice.

Hire in Sierra Leone without setting up an entity

TGTC employs your hire in Sierra Leone on a compliant local contract, runs payroll and benefits, and passes statutory costs through at cost. One invoice, flat $499 per month.

Get a Sierra Leone quote