Economic Overview, Offshore Hydrocarbons & Spanish Heritage
Equatorial Guinea combines high hydrocarbon GDP per capita with a unique Spanish-speaking legal and commercial environment in Central Africa.
Key Economic Sectors
- Offshore Petroleum & LNG: Deepwater crude oil extraction, LNG liquefaction (EG LNG on Bioko), and methanol production.
- Maritime Logistics & Infrastructure: Modern deepwater ports in Malabo and Bata connecting regional Atlantic shipping.
- Forestry & Construction: Tropical timber harvesting and commercial infrastructure development.
Employment Contracts, Ley General del Trabajo & Probation
Regulated by the Ley General del Trabajo (Law No. 12/1992).
- Mandatory Spanish Contracts: Contracts must be in Spanish and registered with the Ministry of Labor.
- Probation Period: Maximum statutory probation is 1 month for non-qualified workers, 3 months for technicians, and 6 months for directors/executives.
Working Hours, Overtime & Rest Periods
- Standard Hours: 40 to 48 hours per week (8 hours/day over 5 or 6 days).
- Overtime Surcharges: 125% (25% surcharge) for daytime overtime; 150% (50% surcharge) for night overtime; 200% (double time) on Sundays and public holidays.
Annual Leave, Public Holidays & Maternity Protections
- Annual Paid Vacation: Minimum 30 calendar days (2.5 days per month) per year of service.
- Public Holidays: 11 official national public holidays (including Freedom Day on 3 August and Independence Day on 12 October).
- Maternity Leave: 12 weeks (84 calendar days) paid maternity leave (funded via INSESO social security). Job protection applies.
Social Security (INSESO 21.5%), FOCAL & IRPF Tax
| Statutory Fund | Employer Share | Employee Share | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security (INSESO) | 21.5% | 4.5% | Pensions, health, family & occupational risk |
| Labor Protection Fund (FOCAL) | 1.0% | 0.5% | National vocational training & employment fund |
| Total Statutory Contributions | 22.5% | 5.0% | Total monthly social burden |
Personal Income Tax (IRPF): Progressive brackets from 10% up to 35% withheld monthly at source.
Termination, Notice & Severance Indemnity
- Notice Periods: 15 days to 3 months based on occupational category and length of service.
- Severance Pay: Progressive statutory formula based on average monthly earnings per completed year of service.
Why Use an Employer of Record (EOR) in Equatorial Guinea
- Rapid Energy & Logistics Deployment: Onboard engineers and managers in Malabo or Bata in days.
- INSESO & FOCAL Compliance: Automated management of 22.5% employer social contributions and monthly tax declarations.
- Expatriate Work Authorizations: EOR manages Ministry of Labor work permits for foreign specialists.
