Employer of Record and Payroll Services in Tunisia 
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 Tunisia
Offering one of the most competitive economies in Africa, Tunisia presents a number of economic advantages including sound macroeconomics, talent competitiveness, a solid entrepreneurship ecosystem and good ICT development. Tunisia is the second largest worldwide exporter of dates and olive oil, agriculture is a key sector. Supporting its geostrategic location is dedicated infrastructure (rail, air, telecommunications and more). Increasing liberalization and greater integration in the global economy is strengthened by a regulatory and tax incentive framework.
Doing Business in Tunisia
Tunisia is a favorable foreign direct investment destination with over 3,700 foreign companies settling in the country. Unfortunately, at present times, a high degree of caution is advised because of the threat of a terrorist attack. Travel is not advised for certain towns and governorates. Currently, the country suffers from both an economic and financial crisis that has been worsened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entity Registration and Incorporation Requirements
Setting up a new business or expanding an existing one in Tunisia is straightforward. Choose how your company operates from a range of entity types that suit your individual circumstance.
Banking
Banking Hours: 8:30 am to 11:00 pm from Monday to Thursday.
Working Week
The standard working week is from Monday to Friday from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Labor Law
Labor law is governed by the Labor Code as well as collective agreements. The law permits workers to organize and strike, to obtain leave and establish their working hours.
Main Industries
Petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles,footwear
GDP Growth
-1%
Dates & Numbers
dd/mm/yyyy
Official State Name
Republic of Tunisia
Population
12.26 million
Capital
Tunis
Major Languages
Arabic
Currency
Tunisian Dinar
Internet Domain
.tn
International Dialing Code
+216
17°C
Payroll in Tunisia
Ensure efficient and professional handling of crucial details such as tax penalties, tax codes, and salary payments by outsourcing your payroll services to Mercans, allowing you to seamlessly expand your business globally. With experience, expertise, and smart payroll technology, our Tunisia payroll team provides the best outsourced payroll services. Mercans is one of the largest payroll companies in Tunisia and around the world. By using our secure online payroll and HR self-help portal, employees can handle multiple tasks without contacting the HR.
In addition to storing and accessing payslips, the portal provides a customized interface for resolving payroll inquiries, filling out data for the yearly tax clearance, or other documents to be prepared, requesting time off, managing business trips, or settling travel expenses. As for payroll in Tunisia, we streamline complex and time-consuming payroll processes such as Real Time Information (RTI), reporting, and pension auto-enrolment by managing the administrative aspects and the end-to-end payroll services for you.
Payroll
The Tunisian government and the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) have recently reached agreement for the wages of state employees to be increased by 3.5%.
It is acceptable to provide employees with online payslips
Payslip
Payroll reports must be kept for 4 years
Reports
Employees receive paid annual leave of 12 days
Annual Leave
For an employee to receive sickness benefit, they must have at least 50 days of covered employment in
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the last two quarters or 80 days in the last fourth quarters before sickness began.
Sick Leave
Employees are entitled to 1 month of paid maternity leave. There are no legal provisions regarding paternity leave
Maternity & Paternity Leave
Employees are required to be provided with 30 days of notice for termination of employment
Employee Termination
There are no provisions mandated by law regarding the 13th month salary
13th month salary
403 TND per month
Minimum Wage
Employees are entitled to overtime pay of 1.25x of their ordinary rate of pay for up to 2 hours only
Overtime
Employees paid monthly are entitled to 1 day of pay for each month of employment.
Severance Pay
Mercans provides convenient Employer of Record services for organizations seeking to hire employees and manage payroll in Tunisia without the need to establish a branch office or subsidiary. Our EOR in Tunisia hires workers according to local labor laws and can on-board them in a few days instead of weeks.
As your EOR provider in Tunisia, we are committed to helping you achieve your business growth and expansion goals, ensuring the entire process is seamless, easy and compliant.
Exactly as if they were an employee of your company, the new employee will work on your behalf. We always guarantee 100% compliance and support for your Tunisian and global businesses.
PEO in Tunisia
Mercans PEO Services is a top-tier Professional Employment Organization (PEO) in Tunisia, delivering unparalleled human resource solutions to international companies. As a PEO in Tunisia, Mercans provides a flexible and cost-effective way for companies to operate in Tunisia by taking care of all HR-related tasks, such as employment, payroll, benefits, and compliance. With extensive experience in the Tunisian market and a dedicated team of experts, Mercans PEO Services is the go-to partner for seamless expansion in Tunisia. Through our expertise, companies can focus on their core business operations while we handle the complexities of HR. Choose Mercans PEO Services for a successful, stress-free business expansion in Tunisia.
Tax and Social Security
For corporations, there has been a new category of tax audit, namely the ‘spot tax audit’ which cannot be carried out more than once a year. The social security system is funded by contributions from both employers and employees.
Tax
Personal income tax is due by all individuals who are tax resident in Tunisia on the basis of their worldwide income. Non-Tunisian tax resident individuals, only Tunisian sourced income is subject to income tax.
Corporate Income Tax
Personal Income Tax
Sales Tax
VAT
Social Security
All contributions are collected from the individual by their employer for payment. However, individuals who carry out independent activities may choose to opt for one of a few social regimes which are made available by the social security authorities.
Social Security Rate
Social Security Rate for Employers
Social Security Rate for Employees
Employment Law
A memorandum of understanding has been reached recently between the government and UGTT pertaining to the increase of salaries for nearly 700,000 public employees.
Employment Agreement
There is no minimum duration specified for employment contracts and there are both fixed-term and indefinite employment contracts.
Working condition
The general work week is set as not more than 48 hours. However, certain sectors may be subject to certain agreements and there may be a reduction of the weekly working hours.
Leaves
as per the labor code
Employment termination
Employers are free to terminate employment agreements but dismissals shall be considered legally unfair if there is no genuine and serious cause to justify termination.
30 days
Minimum notice period for terminating an employee
15
Total number of public holidays
48
Working hours per week
2 days
Total number of days for Compassionate & Bereavement Leave
Immigration
Immigration laws have not changed much in recent times and are generally restrictive. Work permits are granted to foreign workers only when a Tunisian counterpart does not exist for the needed expertise. While travel for less than 90 days may entitle an individual to a visa exemption, entry and exit conditions may change at short notice.
Residency permits
A foreign worker must obtain a work contract with a local employer and hold a residence card that specifies the individual is allowed to undertake a remunerated activity in Tunisia. Failure to do so will result in serious fines, deportation or even, criminal charges for both the employer and foreign worker.
Work Permit Validity
2 years
Required Documents
A completed visa application form
A passport issued within the last 10 years and which is valid for a minimum of six months
A copy of the first page of the applicant’s passport
1-2 passport photos (depending on the specific embassy’s requirements)
Proof of accommodation in Tunisia (such as a lease or hotel reservation)
A travel itinerary with the planned dates of travel
A letter of invitation from the applicant’s employer in Tunisia
Evidence of the visa application fee payment.
Build the best team and hire top talent compliantly in Tunisia. Get in touch with Tunisia payroll outsourcing & PEO specialists for a free consultation!