French Guiana is an overseas department/region and a single territorial collectivity of France located in the Guianas on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bounded to the east and south by Brazil, and to the west by Suriname.
French Guiana is the second-biggest territory of France (more than one-seventh the size of Metropolitan France) and the largest outermost region inside the European Union, with a land area of 83,534 km2 (32,253 sq mi). It has an extremely low population density of 3.5 people per square kilometer (9.1/sq mi). (It has a population of fewer than 1200 people, which is less than that of Metropolitan France.) In 2022, the metropolitan region of Cayenne, its capital, housed half of its 294,436 residents. Forests represent 98.9 percent of French Guiana's land area, the majority of which is primeval rainforest. The Guiana Amazonian Park, the biggest national park in the European Union, spans 41% of French Guiana's land area.
Since December 2015, both the region and the department have been governed by a single assembly under the auspices of a new territorial collectivity known as the French Guiana Territorial Collectivity (French: collectivité territoriale de Guyane). The French Guiana Assembly (French: assemblée de Guyane) replaced the previously defunct regional council and departmental council. The regional and departmental governments are overseen by the French Guiana Assembly. Gabriel Serville is its president.
Since 1946, French Guiana has been a full member of the French Republic, and its official currency is the euro. The existence of the Guiana Space Centre, presently the European Space Agency's major launch facility near the equator, supports a substantial portion of the French Guiana economy. The official language, like in the rest of France, is normal French, although each ethnic group has its own language, the most frequently spoken of which is French Guianese Creole, a French-based creole language.
The standard workweek is 35 hours, with a weekly maximum of 48 hours, and an average of no more than 44 hours over a 12-week period. Contractual or collective bargaining agreements may allow for an increase in the 12-week average to 46 hours per week. The working day cannot exceed ten hours, although a contract or collective bargaining agreement may allow for an extension to twelve hours. Certain executives and white collar employees are exempt from these restrictions. While the majority of other employees may be required to work more than 35 hours per week, they must be compensated for the additional hours, which is typically done through additional vacation time.
In practice, due to the mid-day break, the standard French workday is actually longer than in many other countries, typically beginning between 8:00 and 9:00 AM and ending at 6:00 PM or later, with an hour-long or longer break between roughly 12:30 and 2:00 PM.
Employees must take a minimum of 35 consecutive hours of rest over a seven-day period.
Overtime is limited to 220 hours per year, and the workweek is limited to 48 hours, including overtime, which is compensated on a percentage of income basis. A collective bargaining agreement may establish a higher or lower rate of overtime.
Night work is defined as work performed between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Night work hours are determined by collective bargaining, but cannot exceed eight hours in a 24-hour period or 40 hours on average over a 12-week period.
Outside of standard office hours, employees in France have the "right to disconnect," which includes not checking, answering, or sending emails.
Salaries in French Guiana range from 790 EUR per month (minimum wage) to 14,000 EUR per month (maximum salary) (maximum average salary).
Healthcare is the most important benefit to people. The government's support for healthcare via the social security system is insufficient, particularly for optical and dental care. This is why employees value the additional coverage provided by their employer. When asked to rank three other common benefits in order of importance, the average employee will most likely say Disability, Death, and Retirement.
Employee benefits that are mandatory include old-age pension, elderly solidarity allowance, long-term disability pension, short-term disability pension, spouse's pension, death grant, and workers compensation. Supplemental employee benefits include retirement and death benefits, short-term and long-term disability insurance, medical insurance, workers' compensation, retirement, and career termination indemnities. Parental leave and profit sharing are among the benefits available.
The corporate tax, or impot sur les societes (IS), is a general yearly tax that applies to all profits generated in France by companies and other organizations. It affects about one-third of French businesses. For all of their operations, the standard rate is 33.3 percent. The net revenues from corporate tax in 2016 amounted to €29.9 billion. The difference between gross profit and costs and deductible expenditures equals taxable income. The gap between sales and expenses results in gross operating profit. In addition to the gross operational profit, all other revenue or gains are usually taxable: rental income, interest, deposits, and bonds. Long Term Capital Gains are taxed at a lower rate for a fixed period of years. Since 2012, a tax credit of 7% of total salary expenses has been subtracted from the gross tax payable.
For an income below, €9,700, the tax rate us 0.
For an income from €9,711 to €26,818, the tax rate is 14%.
For an income from €26,818 to €71,898, the tax rate is 30%.
For an income from €71,898 to €152,260, the tax rate is 41%.
For an income beyond €152,260, the tax rate is 45%.
The VAT (French: taxe sur la valeur ajoutée, TVA) is a general consumption tax levied on products and services sold in France. It is a proportionate tax on production collected by businesses and eventually funded entirely by the end buyer, i.e. the consumer, since it is included into the price of products or services.
The standard rate is currently set at 20%. There are two discounted rates: 10% for books, hotel stays, local public transit, and restaurant meals, and 5.5 percent for most groceries. Only prescription medicines insured by Social Security are subject to a 2.1 percent surcharge. In 2013, the net income from VAT was €141.2 billion.
Before you begin packing, you should determine whether or not you need a visa. While French Guiana is officially still a French territory, it does not benefit fully from the Schengen Area Agreement, despite the fact that the regulations are basically the same. Some nationalities face restrictions and constraints, but the list of visa waiver nations is extremely extensive: chances are, you are visa-exempt. EU nationals enjoy the same rights in French Guiana as they have in France, which means they may freely move to and from French Guiana and remain permanently. The remainder of the visa-exempt nations may stay for 3 to 6 months without a visa.
All passengers, regardless of citizenship, must have a Yellow Fever immunization certificate. You will not be able to board the aircraft if you do not have one, and you will not be allowed to travel by land if you do not have one. Yellow Fever vaccine is required, so arrange an appointment with your doctor before departing.
Leaving aside the paperwork, you will learn to like French Guiana. The environment is humid and tropical, which means there isn't much seasonal difference in temperature. Enjoy the lovely beaches while sipping a nice beverage, or venture into the wide jungle: the steep plateaus and Tumuk Humak Mountains are not to be missed!
You have various alternatives for travelling to French Guiana, but you can only fly into Cayenne with Air France or Air Caraibe since it is the only city in the country with an international airport. Alternatively, you may travel across the Atlantic Ocean by boat from various countries that allow passenger service. Many people like this choice since it is really affordable; all you need are sea legs and some patience! Finally, you may enter French Guiana through highway from Brazil or Suriname.
It is rather simple to get about French Guiana. You may travel inside the nation by bus, but keep in mind that buses do not run often and are sometimes delayed, making public transportation a little stressful. Taxis are simple to obtain, although the charges may be extremely high, particularly if you seem to be a tourist. Renting a vehicle is another reasonable alternative, but don't expect to find many paved roads in the country's interior. The Cayenne Airport provides flights to interior locations, however aircraft tickets are expensive.
Because English is not frequently spoken or written in French Guiana, you should acquire some basic French before visiting there. The majority of the population speaks both French and Creole. Because there are a lot of Brazilians and Dominicans in French Guiana, Portuguese and Spanish are also widely spoken.
Creole cuisine in French Guiana is outstanding, with a heavy emphasis on spices and fish. You've probably heard of cayenne pepper, right? Cooks in French Guiana sometimes be a little too generous with their spices, so use caution.
Overall, French Guiana is an intriguing and affluent nation located in a fascinating and attractive location. You're going to have a fantastic time. The friendliness of the people, the Creole culture, and the beauty will entice you to return soon.
In France, employment contracts are typically for an indeterminate period of time, while there are a variety of alternative forms that are employed in special circumstances. must be written and Several forms of employment contracts, particularly fixed-term contracts, must always be in writing, and although a written contract is not always needed, it is nearly always advised. All written contracts should be in French, and any employee who does not speak French should be provided with a copy in their native language. There is no standard form for an indefinite duration contract since it is not particularly needed to be in writing, but it must contain certain terms and conditions.
A probation term must be indicated in the employment contract if the employee will be subject to one. Different regulations governing probationary periods may be included in collective bargaining agreements.
While indefinite-term contracts are the most common and favored kind of contract, employers may also use fixed-term contracts, part-time contracts, temporary contracts, or apprenticeship contracts as necessary, or follow a collective bargaining agreement.
Contracts for a certain period of time must always be in writing.
There is no set length for assignments. This is usually indicated in the employment contract for fixed-term employments.
Euro (EUR)
Because of its position and involvement in several European organizations, France is an economic powerhouse in Western Europe. The government also encourages international investment, giving the country an attractive location for growth. France boasts a stable and contemporary business environment that is ideal for startups and other companies trying to build a name for themselves.
Several criteria, such as the industry or kind of firm you intend to create, should be considered throughout the France subsidiary creation procedure. Do you have any key commercial deals or relationships? Have you thought about the nationality of the people you wish to hire? Before you begin the setup procedure, you must answer all of these questions.
In France, the most frequent kind of subsidiary is a private limited liability business known as a SARL (société à responsabilité limitée). To form a private LLC, you must first:
1. Examine the availability of your company's name.
2. Open a business bank account.
3. Open a physical office in France.
4. Select an auditor.
5. Publish the incorporation of your French subsidiary in the official publication.
5. Fill out tax forms, social security forms, and insurance forms for your business.
6. Commercial Court will stamp your company's books.
When planning to establish up your subsidiary in France, you must adhere to a number of French subsidiary legislation, including different French accounting and tax requirements. If your firm is located outside of the European Union (EU), the withholding tax on profits is 25%, but you may be able to receive lesser taxes due to double tax treaties signed by France.
You will require the following items, according to French subsidiary laws:
1. The subsidiary must be formed by at least two persons or corporate organisations.
2. A minimum share capital of one euro is required.
3. A manager who is a French resident or from the European Economic Area (EEA).
4. There can be no more than 100 stockholders.
