Kiribati is an island republic in the central Pacific Ocean. Its official name is the Republic of Kiribati (Gilbertese: [Ribaberiki] Kiribati). The permanent population is around 119,000 (2020), with Tarawa atoll housing more than half of them. The state is made up of 32 atolls and one isolated elevated coral island, Banaba. There are 811 square kilometers (313 square miles) of land spread over 3.5 million km2 (1.4 million sq mi) of water.
Although the International Date Line runs around Kiribati and swings far east, nearly reaching the 150° W meridian, their spread crosses the equator and the 180th meridian. This placed Kiribati's easternmost islands, the southern Line Islands south of Hawaii, on the same day as the Gilbert Islands and in the most advanced time zone on the planet: UTC+14. Kiribati is the only nation in the world that can be found in all four hemispheres.
Kiribati obtained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979, becoming a sovereign state. The capital, South Tarawa, is presently the most inhabited region and is made up of a number of islands linked by a network of causeways. These cover almost half of Tarawa Atoll. Prior to independence, the island sold phosphate; however, the mines are no longer profitable, with fisheries and copra exports driving the majority of the economy. Kiribati is one of the world's least developed nations, relying heavily on foreign help to sustain its economy.
Kiribati is a member of the Pacific Community (SPC), the Commonwealth of Nations, the IMF, the World Bank, the OACPS, and the Pacific Islands Forum. It became a full member of the United Nations in 1999. As an island country, the islands are very susceptible to climate change, and as a member of the Alliance of Small Island States, tackling climate change has been a fundamental aspect of its foreign strategy.
A lawful termination of employment is subject to various requirements, one of which is that the employer must produce a written copy of any grounds for the termination. Termination is legal if an employee is unable to fulfill the job's required responsibilities to a reasonable standard of performance; if an employee engages in unacceptable workplace behavior; or if an employer's operational requirements are lessened.
You must offer a one-week notice to any employee who has been with you for less than a year. A two-week notice time is required if you have worked for less than three years, and a four-week notice period is required if you have worked for more than five years.
There are no provisions in the Kiribati law regarding probationary period.
If you the employer initiates an immediate termination, they may provide severance in lieu of notice. By the end of the next workday, the employer must pay all wages and benefits due, including any accrued but unused annual leave.
Local labor laws establish a 40-hour workweek but leave weekly maximums and minimums to individual employment contracts. Employers must submit these contracts for documentation to the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources Development. In general, public sector employees work an average of 36.25 hours per week and are compensated for any additional hours worked.
At the moment, there are no laws regulating the amount of overtime that an employee may work.
The minimum wage is AUD 1.30 per hour for employees in local businesses and companies, and AUD 3.00 for workers in overseas-funded projects.
There are no national public or private health insurance schemes. Instead, the government provides all health services to all residents for free, resulting in little to no out-of-pocket health expenditure costs. Any medical services provided to foreign tourists and travelers are subject to a fee.
Kiribati is a tax-free jurisdiction. Corporations are not subject to income, capital gains, profit, or other types of direct taxes, regardless of their residency status.
Kiribati is a tax-free jurisdiction. Corporations are not subject to income, capital gains, profit, or other types of direct taxes, regardless of their residency status.
Kiribati is a tax-free jurisdiction. Corporations are not subject to income, capital gains, profit, or other types of direct taxes, regardless of their residency status.
Kiribati visa policy outlines the government's laws and regulations for foreign visitors who need a visa to enter the country. Visas are travel authorizations issued by governments to foreigners in order for them to enter, stay in, or depart their country.
In Kiribati, visas are still quite straightforward to get. As a result, certain noncitizens must get a visa to visit Kiribati. To receive this visa, either an application procedure or an automatic grant must be completed.
The visa requirements for tourists in Kiribati vary based on a variety of circumstances, including the traveler's country, expected length of stay, and purpose of the trip.
The Kiribati visa policy provides a broad range of visas and travel authorizations to visitors. Visitors of over 125 countries may acquire a visa and travel permission for Kiribati, whether for business or pleasure.
Foreign nationals intending longer stays in Kiribati, including living and working there, must acquire the necessary visas and/or permissions from the Kiribati embassy.
For all other countries, a Kiribati visa must be acquired via an embassy. Visitors to Kiribati are almost always required to get a visa prior to their arrival.
This exemption, however, is available to citizens of over 73 countries. Individuals in this category are authorized to remain in Kiribati and are eligible for a visa.
Foreign citizens wishing to visit Kiribati for tourism have various alternatives under the country's visa policy. Depending on the tourist's nationality, the traveler has a number of possibilities.
Visa-free travel to Kiribati or the opportunity to visit Kiribati as a tourist is available to 73 nations. Kiribati Visas, which enable multiple entry inside Kiribati, are available to citizens of more than 125 countries. Kiribati visa holders may remain for up to three months after getting their visa. To apply for an online visa for Kiribati, foreign citizens must have a valid passport from a qualifying country, a current email address, and a means of payment. In addition, candidates must fulfill specific health standards, such as being in good health and having negative COVID-19 test results.
If a foreign individual does not match the conditions for visa-free entrance, they may make an appointment at an embassy to plead their case for a Kiribati tourist embassy visa.
Tourist visas for all countries except Kiribati may only be acquired at a Kiribati embassy. A tourist of any country who wishes to remain in Kiribati for an extended length of time must get a long-term visa from the embassy. For further information, see the Kiribati visa policy.
Work contracts must be comprehensive, with a clearly defined and agreed-upon resolution governing various aspects of employment, such as salary, yearly leave, sick leave entitlement and pay, and any repatriation requirements. Contracts should also specify the nature of the job, its length, and the proper time of notice needed for termination. Employees under the age of 18 are not permitted to sign a formal work contract.
There is no set length for assignments. This is usually indicated in the employment contract for fixed-term employments.
Australian dollar (AUD)
The nation provides a variety of business structures. One of the first stages in establishing your subsidiary is to choose the best alternative among four main business models:
(a) Sole proprietor: You run your subsidiary on your own and assume all legal risks for the firm, including any debts.
(b) Partnership: Two or more persons share ownership of the firm under this single business arrangement.
(c) Private limited liability company (LLC): Members aren’t personally liable for the company’s debts, and shareholders are limited in their ability to transfer shares publicly.
(d) Cooperative: Rather than generating profits, this sort of corporation focuses on delivering a service to its members.
After deciding on the ideal business plan, the following step in creating a subsidiary is to deposit a specified amount of money into a local bank account. The sum is determined by the size of your business. Following that, you must:
1. Become a member of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives (MCIC).
2. Obtain a certificate of registration of a business name.
3. If your income is $5,000 or more, you must register for taxes.
4. Register with the Kiribati Provident Fund as an employer (KPF).
5. Apply to the local licensing authorities in your area for a business operating license.
The national subsidiary rules are very simple, but you will require necessary documents from many government bodies to be legally compliant. This normally entails registering your firm name with MCIC, filing taxes, and becoming a KPF employer. If you do not take these measures, you will be unable to establish a properly permitted subsidiary in-country.
