Employer of Record and Payroll Services in Mauritius 
Mercans-owned legal entity 
We have our own legal entity to protect your business from risk and provide you and your employees with a distinctive experience.
We have our own legal entity to protect your business from risk and provide you and your employees with a distinctive experience.
Services available
- Employer of record
- Contractor management
- Global payroll
- In-country payroll
Mercans offers complete payroll, PEO and HR services in Mauritius
Moving away from its reliance on sugar cane, Mauritius has been developing into a regional hub for financial services, ICT and education. A business gateway to Africa, it was the top-ranked African country in the World Economic Forum’s 2019 Global Competitiveness Report. Diverse and multicultural, Mauritius offers a range of investment opportunities in over 15 sectors.
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Doing Business in Mauritius
Politically, socially and economically stable, Mauritius offers a conducive environment for doing business. Among the top 20 countries in the world for ease of doing business, Mauritius has consolidated its leadership position in Sub Saharan Africa. A National Electronic Licensing System offers a single point of entry for application, payment and determination of business-related licences and permits.
Entity Registration and Incorporation Requirements
Setting up a new business or expanding an existing one in Mauritius is straightforward. Choose how your company operates from a range of entity types which suit your individual circumstance.
Banking
Banks are open from Monday-Thursday 9 am-3:15 pm and on Friday from 9 am-5 pm
Working Week
The standard working week is 40 hours per week usually worked from Monday to Friday, 8 hours per day
Labor Law
The Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training is responsible for all labour legislation and tenders advice to workers and employers about rights and obligations. The primary pieces of legislation include the Employment Rights Act 2008, the Workers’ Rights Act 2019, the End of Year Gratuity Act and the Employment Rights (Registration of Employers) Regulations 2013.
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Main Industries
Textiles, tourism, financial and business services
GDP Growth
-9.00%
Dates & Numbers
yyyy/mm/dd
Official State Name
The Republic of Mauritius
Population
1.266 million
Capital
Port Louis
Major Languages
Mauritian Creole, French and English
Currency
Mauritian rupee ₨
Internet Domain
.mu
International Dialing Code
+230
23°C
Payroll
The government came up with a National Minimum Wage for which it has established a National Wage Consultative Council. The National Remuneration Board makes recommendations regarding minimum remuneration and the terms of employment in the private sector.
It is acceptable to provide employees with online payslips
Payslip
Payroll reports must be kept for 7 years
Reports
20 working days
Annual Leave
21 days
Sick Leave
12 weeks of paid maternity leave and 5 days of paid paternity leave
Maternity & Paternity Leave
An employer may dismiss a worker summarily (without notice)
Employee Termination
Not required by law
13th month salary
₨ 9,000 for export workers and ₨ 9,700 for non-export workers.
Minimum Wage
1.5 times the salary of a normal hour
Overtime
One quarter of a month's wages for each 12 months of service
Severance Pay
Tax and Social Security
Individuals, regardless of their nationality, who derive income from sources within the country are subject to Mauritian income tax on all such income (whether resident or not). Every employer and employee in the private sector pays a monthly contribution (of 2.5% and 1% respectively) of the basic wage of every employee towards the NSF (National Savings Fund).
Tax
Global companies who operate a multi-country payroll system need to be aware that income from employment duties performed in Mauritius is deemed derived from Mauritius (even if the remuneration is received outside Mauritius). There are no local taxes on income in Mauritius.
Corporate Income Tax
Personal Income Tax
Sales Tax
VAT
Social Security
Every employee (whether on a full time or part time basis) or self employed individual is liable to pay Contribution Sociale Generalisee (CSG) at the prescribed rate depending on their remuneration.
Social Security Rate
Social Security Rate for Employers
Social Security Rate for Employees
Employment Law
Mauritius welcomes professionals and foreign talent, offering expatriates an opportunity to explore the Mauritian job market. Holders of the Professional Occupation Permit may invest in any business provided they are not employed in that business nor manage it. Professionals may also apply for a short-term Occupational Permit for a period not exceeding nine months, which can be extended once for a maximum period of three months.
Employment agreement
Generally, Mauritius recognises workers in terms of distinctions based on their salary. The Workers’ Rights Act 2019 is the primary governing legislation and the two most prominent types of contracts are fixed term and contracts of indeterminate duration.
Working condition
The maximum working hours are 45 hours per week and additional hours are counted as overtime, for which overtime payment is compulsory unless it is included in the monthly remuneration. Flexitime is purely a contractual arrangement.
Leaves
There are a few categories of leave available including annual leave, sick leave, vacation leave, special leave, maternity and paternity leave. The refund of annual leave depends on whether the individual is a worker or employee. Workers must have their annual leave not taken, refunded to them. However, the annual leave is contractual for employees with no obligation to refund.
Employment termination
The Workers’ Rights Act (WRA) requires employers to give a minimum of 30 days’ notice prior to dismissal or such longer period as may be stipulated in the employment contract. Prior to termination, the employer is required to give an opportunity to the worker to explain the charges that have been laid out against them, the answer of these charges may be provided in the form of a disciplinary hearing.
Nil
Minimum notice period for terminating an employee
15
Total number of public holidays
40
Working hours per week
3 days
Total number of days for Compassionate & Bereavement Leave
Immigration
The OP (Occupation Permit) is a combined work and residence permit which allows foreign nationals to work and reside in Mauritius under three categories: Investor, Professional and Self-Employed).
Residency permits
Under the Professional category , the OP is confined to expatriates employed in Mauritius by virtue of a contract of employment and who earns a monthly basic salary of at least MUR 60,000. For professionals in the ICT (information and communication technologies), BPO (business process outsourcing), pharmaceutical manufacturing and food processing sectors, the monthly basic salary should be at least MUR 30,000.
Work Permit validity
10 years
Required Documents
A completed application form with four passport-sized photos
Copies of the professional and academic qualifications of the applicant
A description of the job issued by the employer
Details of prior work experience of the prospective employee
A certificate of health issued to the applicant by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life
A copy of the employer’s Certificate of Incorporation and its business registration card
The Contract of Employment (COE) that has been approved by the Labour Division with a minimum salary of 30,000 Mauritian Rupees (MUR)
Proof that the job opening and the number of employees required were posted in two or more newspapers in A5 format
Build the best team and hire top talent compliantly in Mauritius. Get in touch with Mauritius payroll outsourcing & PEO specialists for a free consultation!
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