Algeria

Hire in Mozambique

Here’s where you get started with human resources best practices and hiring in Mozambique.

Published on March 10, 2024 | Last updated on September 13, 2024
Maputo downtown cityscape, capital city of Mozambique

Currency of Mozambique

Mozambican Metical (MZN)

The Capital of Mozambique

Maputo

Time Zone in Mozambique

GMT+2

Important Facts About the Country of Mozambique

Introduction to Mozambique

Mozambique, officially known as the Republic of Mozambique, is a southeastern African country bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east. Covering an area of approximately 800,000 square kilometers, it stands as one of Africa’s largest nations. The country is home to over 32 million people. Maputo, the capital city, serves as the political, economic and cultural hub of the country.

What to Know about Mozambique's Geography

Mozambique shares borders with several countries, including Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Africa to the southwest. The country’s coastline stretches over 2,470 kilometers. Mozambique’s geographical features include plateaus, mountains, savannas and lush coastal plains, making it a country of rich biodiversity and natural beauty.

Climate in Mozambique

Mozambique experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season typically lasts from November to April, bringing heavy rains and cyclones, especially in coastal regions. The dry season, from May to October, is marked by sunny days and cooler temperatures.

The Culture of Mozambique

Mozambique’s culture reflects a blend of indigenous traditions, colonial influences and Swahili heritage. Traditional dance forms like the Marrabenta and Makhuwa are celebrated during various festivals and events. Additionally, Mozambican cuisine showcases a fusion of local ingredients with Portuguese, Indian and Arab flavors, creating a unique and flavorful culinary experience.

Religions Observed in Mozambique

Christianity, predominantly Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, is the most widely practiced religion (more than half of the population), particularly in urban areas. Islam is followed by a significant portion of the population, particularly in the northern regions and along the coast. Additionally, traditional African beliefs and practices are retained by some communities.

Languages Spoken in Mozambique

Portuguese is the country’s official language, spoken by around half of the population. The other most spoken primary languages in Mozambique include Makhuwa, Changana, Nyanja, Ndau, Sena, Chwabo and Tswa, etc.

Mozambican Human Resources at a Glance

Employment Law Protections in Mozambique

The Labor Law 2007 serves as the country’s main legal framework governing employment relationships. Additionally, there are other important rules and regulations that play a significant role, including:

  • Law no. 4/2007 Compulsory Social Security
  • Decree no. 53/2007 which approves the Regulation of Compulsory Social Security
  • Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique, 2004

Employment Contracts in Mozambique

A written employment contract is often required, with the exception of tasks to be completed in less than 90 days. It is the employer’s responsibility to furnish a written employment contract.

There are three different types of employment contracts: permanent, fixed-term and unspecified. A job contract is assumed to be a permanent one if the duration is not specified.

Fixed Term Contracts for Mozambican Employees

The hiring of fixed-term contract workers for permanent duties is prohibited by Mozambican labor law. Fixed-term contracts may be entered into for temporary duties that do not correspond to the typical cycle of production and operation of the firm. Failure to state the reason justifying the conclusion of a fixed-term contract converts it into an open-ended employment contract.

The temporary needs include:

  • replacement of employees who are unable to perform their duties for whatever reason (sick leave, maternity leave, etc.)
  • performance of work due to an exceptional increase in production and performance of seasonal work
  • performance of work that does not meet the permanent needs of the employer
  • performance of a single piece of work, a project or other specific temporary activity

A fixed-term contract can be signed for a duration of two years (24 months), although it can be renewed twice. As a result, the maximum duration of fixed-term contracts, including renewals, is 72 months. Small and medium-sized businesses, on the other hand, are free to enter into fixed-term contracts during their first eight years of operation.

Mozambique's Guidelines Regarding Probation Period/Trial Period

As per the Labor Law, a probationary period refers to the initial time frame during which an employment contract is executed.

For permanent contracts, the probationary period cannot exceed:

  • 180 days for intermediate and higher-level and employees holding leadership and management positions
  • 90 days for other types of employees

For fixed-term contracts, the probationary period cannot exceed:

  • 15 days for fixed-term contracts of up to six months
  • 30 days for fixed-term contracts of between six months to one year
  • 90 days for fixed-term contracts of longer than one year

Regulations and Rules Regarding Working Hours in Mozambique

According to the labor law, normal working hours consist of eight hours per day and 48 hours per week. It is possible to extend the daily work hours to nine hours, as long as the worker receives an additional half day of rest per week in addition to their usual weekly break.

In rare circumstances and as agreed in a collective agreement, the maximum daily working hours may be extended by up to four hours, as long as the total weekly working hours do not exceed 56 hours.

Mozambican Laws Regarding Overtime

When there are material reasons for extending working hours, an employee may perform up to 96 hours of overtime per quarter. Nevertheless, overtime hours should not exceed eight hours per week or 200 hours per year.

Overtime is permitted only when employers have an increased workload that does not justify hiring new employees and where there are substantive reasons. If a worker works longer than the specified working hours during the week, he or she is entitled to overtime compensation according to the rate below:

  • 150% of the normal hourly rate for overtime hours until 8 p.m.
  • 200% of the normal hourly rate for the overtime hours from 8 p.m. to the start of normal hours on the following day.
  • 200% of the normal wage rate for when a worker works on Sundays, public holidays or additional rest days.

When a worker is required to work on a weekly rest day, a public holiday or an additional rest day, a compensatory rest day is provided. The compensatory rest day must be granted within the next three days of work. However, if the extraordinary work does not last more than five hours, an employee is entitled to a half-day of compensatory rest.

Termination

An employment contract may be terminated for the following reasons:

  • expiry of contract
  • mutual agreement
  • termination by the employee (with or without just cause)
  • termination with or without just cause by the employer

Employees cannot be terminated at will by simply serving them with a notice period. For employees on fixed contracts, employers are required to provide written notice before the contract comes to an end. If an employer needs to make redundancies, they must also give written notices to the affected employees who will be terminated.

Mozambique's Requirements Regarding Notice Periods

An employment contract can be terminated by either party by serving notice or paying in lieu of notice. If an employee terminates a fixed-term employment contract, the law demands at least 30 days’ notice or payment in lieu of notice. When a permanent contract is terminated, the law mandates the following notice periods:

  • 15 days if the service period is longer than six months but less than three years
  • 30 days if the service period exceeds three years.

Redundancy/Severance Pay in Mozambique

On termination, a permanent employee is entitled to severance pay as follows:

  • 30 days of wages for every year of service if the basic monthly wage of an employee, including the length of service bonus, is between one and seven times the national minimum wage;
  • 15 days of wages for every year of service if the basic monthly wage of an employee, including the length of service bonus, is between eight and 10 times the national minimum wage;
  • 10 days of wages for every year of service if the basic monthly wage of an employee, including the length of service bonus, is between 11 and 16 times the national minimum wage; and
  • 3 days of wages for every year of service if the basic monthly wage of an employee, including the length of service bonus, is greater than 16 times the national minimum wage.

When a fixed-term contract is terminated, the employer must provide the affected employee with monetary compensation equivalent to the wages they would have earned from the termination date until the contract’s expiration date, whether it is in days or months.

Tax and Social Security Information for Employers in Mozambique

Personal Income Tax in Mozambique

In Mozambique, the personal income tax is calculated according to the following tax table:

Annual Income Bracket (MZN) Tax Rate % Deductible (MZN)
0 – 42,000 10% 0
42,001 – 168,000 15% 2,100
168,001 – 504,000 20% 10,500
504,001 – 1,512,000 25% 37,500
Over 1,512,000 32% 141,540

For non-Mozambican residents, the employer or other payer withholds and remits earned income tax at a fixed flat rate of 20%.

Municipal taxes vary from municipality to municipality. In 2023, Maputo city collect an annual levy of MZN 510. Employers deduct the tax from each employee’s salary and transmit it to the tax authorities.

Social Security in Mozambique

The National Institute of Social Security (‘INSS’) requires mandatory contributions by employers and employees in Mozambique.

Employers and employees must contribute 4% and 3%, respectively, of the employees’ monthly salaries towards social security. An employee’s contribution is withheld at source by the employer.

Foreign nationals may be exempt from making social security contributions in Mozambique if they make such contributions in their native country.

*The above rates serve as a broad guideline. Actual rates charged will differ.

Important Information for Mozambican Employees

Salary Payment

As per the Labour Law, compensation can be based on the amount of work done, the duration of work or a combination of both.

Wages should be based on real hours spent at work and paid in a legal tender on a regular basis (weekly, fortnightly or monthly).

Payslip

Employers are required to maintain a record of the payroll list or relevant payslips, along with the tax and social security payment forms that should be stored as well.

Annual Leave

Employees are entitled to the following paid annual leave based on their years of service:

  • 12 days (one day for every month of actual service during the first year)
  • 30 days as from the second year onwards

Employee’s entitlement to take paid leave cannot be waived, nor can it be denied under any circumstances. Annual leave is usually taken in one long block but parties can also agree to split it apart. The shortest duration that can be taken at one time is six days.

Employees with a fixed term of more than three months but less than one year are entitled to one day of vacation for every month of actual service.

Sick Leave

Employers are required to provide sick leave for up to 15 days in a row, or five non-consecutive days in a quarter, after which they can refer the employee to a health board to evaluate whether or not they can still work. Additionally, according to social security legislation, in the event of an accident or a non-work-related sickness, employees are entitled to up to 365 consecutive days of sick pay under the social security system. As a result, any employee who contracts a disease or has a non-work-related accident may be eligible for sick leave under the Social Security system, and the employer is not obligated to pay the person’s wages during that time.

Maternity & Parental Leave

Maternity Leave

Female employees have the right to a maternity leave of 90 consecutive days. This leave can start 20 days before the expected delivery date. The 90-day leave also applies in cases of full-term or premature delivery, regardless of whether it was a live or stillborn birth.

The remuneration of a worker on maternity leave is regulated by the mandatory social security system.

During pregnancy and up to one year after the end of the maternity leave, the employee’s employment contract cannot be terminated, except in cases of dismissal or expiry.

Paternity Leave

Male employees are entitled to a seven-day paternity leave, starting the day after the child’s birth. The employee cannot use paternity leave within one year and six months after the previous leave was taken.

If the mother is incapacitated or deceased, the father is granted 60 days of paternity leave. If both spouses work for the same employer, they may exchange their maternity or paternity leave to balance work demands. The employee must provide written communication to the employer to inform them of paternity leave.

Public Holidays

There are usually nine public holidays in Mozambique.

Benefits to the Employee in Mozambique

Mozambican Statutory Benefits

Employees have the right to various benefits as mandated by law and collective agreements. These benefits include retirement pensions, public holidays, annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, etc.

Rules Regarding Visas and Foreign Workers in Mozambique

General Information

Visas

If you plan to visit Mozambique, you will need a visa unless you are a citizen of a visa-exempt country. You can obtain a visa on arrival or from a Mozambican embassy or consulate before your trip.

The duration of your visa will depend on the type you apply for, with options including a single or multiple-entry visa for 30 to 60 days. The available visa types for Mozambique include Tourist, Transit, Family Reunion, Work, Business and Study visas.

Work Permits

Foreign nationals who intend to work in Mozambique must get a work permit. Work permits are normally only given when the employer can demonstrate that the position cannot be filled by any suitable Mozambican applicants.

Foreign nationals may be hired under one of the following systems, according to the Ministry of Labor’s general rules for hiring foreigners: hiring under the quota system, hiring under Government-approved investment projects, short-term hiring or hiring with authorization (outside the quota).

Public Holidays Recognized by Mozambique in 2024

Occasion Date
1 New Year’s Day January 1
2 Heroes’ Day February 3
3 Women’s Day April 7
4 Women’s Day Holiday April 8
5 Workers’ Day May 1
6 Independence Day June 25
7 Lusaka Peace Agreement Day September 7
8 Armed Forces Day September 25
9 Peace and National Reconciliation Day October 4
10 Family Day December 25
The content provided in this publication is for general information purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Due to potential changes in regulations, the information may become outdated. GoGlobal and its affiliates disclaim any responsibility for actions taken or not taken based on the information contained in this publication.

Hire New Talent in Mozambique

Our international hiring services let you hire anyone in any country without the investment needed to establish a local entity.

?>