Niger, often known as the Niger Republic (French: République du Niger), is a landlocked nation in West Africa named after the Niger River. Niger is a unitary state bounded to the northeast by Libya, to the east by Chad, to the south by Nigeria, to the southwest by Benin and Burkina Faso, to the west by Mali, and to the northwest by Algeria. Niger is the second-largest landlocked nation in West Africa, behind Chad, with a land area of almost 1,270,000 km2 (490,000 sq mi). The Sahara Desert covers more than 80% of its land area. The country's largest Muslim population of around 22 million people lives mostly in clusters in the country's extreme south and west. Niamey, Niger's capital and biggest city, is situated in the southwest part of the country.
Niger is one of the world's least developed nations. It routinely scores towards the bottom of the United Nations' Human Development Index (HDI); in 2015, it was ranked 187th out of 188 countries, and in 2018 and 2019, it was placed 189th out of 189 countries. Many non-desert areas of the nation are endangered by drought and desertification. The economy is centered on subsistence agriculture, with some export agriculture in the more fertile south and raw material exports, particularly uranium ore. Due to its landlocked location, desert terrain, inefficient agriculture, high fertility rates without birth control and resulting overpopulation, the poor educational level and poverty of its people, a lack of infrastructure, poor healthcare, and environmental degradation, Niger faces significant development challenges.
Nigerien society exhibits a variety derived from the lengthy separate history of its many ethnic groups and regions, as well as their comparatively brief time of statehood. Historically, Niger was on the outskirts of numerous great states. Nigeriens have lived under five constitutions and three periods of military government since independence. Niger became a democratic, multi-party state after a military coup in 2010. The bulk of the population lives in rural regions with little access to higher education.
Each year, employees are given 22 days of paid vacation leave.
New Year’s Day
Easter Monday
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Laylat al-Qadr
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Adha
Independence Day
Islamic New Year
Mawlid
Republic Day
Christmas
Employees are entitled to five days of paid sick time each year.
Employees who are female are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave. Six weeks must pass before the infant is born, with the possibility of an additional three weeks for medical reasons. Both the employer and social security pay for maternity leave.
Male employees receive a day of paid paternity leave.
Apart from maternity and paternity leave, there are no other provisions in the law of Niger regarding parental leave.
Employment contracts may be ended at the conclusion of the contract period (if the contract is for a specified period) or by either side. Generally, employers must have a legitimate basis for firing an employee. The employee's termination must be in writing, and he or she has a right to notice.
Employees with at least one year of employment are entitled to severance pay, unless they are terminated for misbehavior.
In Niger, notice periods range between one and three months.
Probationary periods of up to six months are permitted in Niger.
Severance pay is calculated as a percentage of an employee's average salary multiplied by the number of years of service.
In Niger, normal working hours vary by industry but generally begin at 42 hours per week.
Overtime is paid at 110 percent of the basic rate for hours 42 to 48, and at 135 percent for hours 49 and beyond. If the work occurs on a Sunday or a public holiday, the overtime rate increases to 150 percent, and to 200 percent for evening work.
Niger's compensation rules include a monthly minimum salary of 30,047 CFA francs, or approximately $60.
There are many community-based cooperative health insurance groups in Niger.
Include in your Niger benefits management plan time off for the country's 12 official holidays, as well as 22 days of paid yearly vacation. Employees should, in general, be entitled to at least five paid sick days each year.
Other significant guaranteed benefits include maternity and paternity leave. Female workers should be entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, with six weeks required and the remaining eight weeks available following the delivery. Employers pay half of this benefit, and social security pays half if the employee has been with the business for at least two years. Paternity leave for fathers should be compensated for one day.
Companies in Niger are imposed a corporate income tax rate of 30 percent.
Niger does not impose a personal income tax rate.
The value-added tax (VAT) or goods and sales tax (GST) in Niger is set at 7 percent.
To enter Niger, you will need a valid passport and a visa, just like any other country in the globe. Some countries have signed the Visa Waiver Agreement with the country and are thus exempt from the visa application process. Residents of these visa-free nationalities may enter Niger without a visa, but they must have additional travel papers with them at all times.
The visa that will allow you to enter Niger will also serve as your entrance and residency permit for the duration of your stay. According to Niger visa policy, this permit is only valid for a limited number of days. Citizens of all nationalities can get their visas stamped at the Niger embassy in their home country.
When applying for a Niger visa, all visitors will be required to pay a sum of money as a visa application fee. According to the current Niger visa regulations, the fees are about 155 USD; this sum will not be returned or transferred in the unlikely event that you must cancel your trip to Niger.
When planning a trip to Niger, you may apply for numerous types of visas. The kind of visa you apply for should be determined by the duration of your trip, the purpose of your stay in Niger, and your nationality. These considerations also influence Niger visa policy and, as a result, the granting of your Niger visa.
The purpose of your travel to Niger is referred to as the nature of your stay. This is critical to ensuring the safety of all Niger citizens and residents. You must indicate if you are visiting Niger for business, pleasure, study, or job.
It is critical to understand why you are visiting Niger since this will decide the length of your stay. You may also be required to get validated and up-to-date documentation attesting to the reasons for your journey to Niger. As a result, you should begin arranging your trip to Niger as soon as possible in order to avoid missing out on any necessary paperwork for the visa acceptance procedure.
In Niger, employment contracts are often written in the native language.
Employment contracts may be for a set period of time or for an unlimited period of time. Fixed-term contracts may only be renewed once and have a maximum length of two years. There are also employment contracts for seasonal and temporary labor that may be extended an infinite number of times if both sides agree.
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You can't start the Niger subsidiary establishment procedure until you decide where you want to incorporate and what entity is suitable for your company. We suggest beginning with the location since various towns or areas in Niger may have their own Niger subsidiary laws. Find the ideal location in the nation that is welcoming to foreign investment, or engage with a consultant who can point you in the correct path.
Next, consider your company objectives to determine what kind of subsidiary will work best with your targeted activity level. You may form a limited liability company (LLC), a public limited company (PLC), or a branch. Each has its own set of constraints, but LLCs provide the greatest flexibility, while branches provide the least. Because of the many advantages and minimal constraints, most businesses choose to organize as an LLC.
The following processes are involved in establishing your Niger subsidiary as an LLC:
1. Creating two names, verifying both via the CAC web portal, and selecting the one that isn't already in use
2. Setting goals for the firm
3. Providing the subsidiary's registered main address
4. Drafting the parent company's data with a minimum of one extra stakeholder given
5. Meeting the criteria for share capital and shareholding
6. Providing contact information for two directors as well as copies of their IDs
7. Providing information about the company secretary
8. Creating a resolution of the parent business allowing the subsidiary's registration
9. Creating the memorandum of association and the articles of incorporation
10. Providing a copy of the incorporation certificate
Because Niger's subsidiary rules differ depending on the company, you must ensure that you follow the correct legislation for your kind of subsidiary. LLCs need at least one shareholder and one director of any nationality. A minimum paid-up share capital of $2,000 is also required, which should be placed in an in-country bank account.
The official language of the nation is French, therefore your LLC must maintain its records in French at its registered office. If you do not have a French-speaking staff, you will need to engage a local accountant, consultant, or translator. Then, employ an auditor to review all of your financial accounts before they are submitted to the local tax authorities.
