French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity and the country's lone overseas territory. It is made up of 121 geographically separated islands and atolls that spread over 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) in the South Pacific Ocean. French Polynesia has a total land area of 3,521 square kilometers (1,359 square miles) and a population of 299,356 people (2022 estimate).
French Polynesia is separated into five island groups:
1. the Society Islands archipelago, comprising the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands
2. the Tuamotu Archipelago
3. the Gambier Islands
4. the Marquesas Islands
5. the Austral Islands.
At the time of the 2017 census, 75 of its 121 islands and atolls were inhabited. Tahiti, the most populated island in the Society Islands group, is home to almost 69 percent of French Polynesia's population as of 2017. The capital of French Polynesia is Papeete, which is situated on the island of Tahiti. Clipperton Island was managed by French Polynesia until 2007, despite the fact that it was not a part of its territory.
Hundreds of years after the Great Polynesian Migration, European explorers started sailing through the area, making many visits to the islands of French Polynesia. Visitors included traders and whaling ships. The French acquired control of the islands in 1842 and formed a French protectorate known as Établissements Français d'Océanie (EFO) (French Establishments/Settlements of Oceania).
Under the constitution of the French Fourth Republic, the EFO became an overseas territory in 1946, and Polynesians were given the ability to vote via citizenship. The EFO was renamed French Polynesia in 1957. French Polynesia joined the Pacific Community, a regional development organization, in 1983. Under the constitutional revision of article 74, French Polynesia has been an overseas collectivity of the French Republic since 28 March 2003, and later gained administrative autonomy with law 2004-192 of 27 February 2004, two symbolic manifestations of which are the title of President of French Polynesia and its additional designation as an overseas country.
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.
Salary levels in French Polynesia range from 36,800 XPF per month (minimum) to 650,000 XPF per month (maximum) (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.
This location does not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Please bear in mind that, although a visa is not necessary, you must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your date of departure from the nation and has one blank visa page. You must also have documentation of onward and return flights, any paperwork necessary for the next location, and documents proving the purpose of your trip (e.g. business cover or support letter, conference registrations, etc.). Finally, you should have documentation of adequate cash for the duration of your desired stay.
It is strongly advised that you check with your airline that you will be able to board without a visa.
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.
