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  • Legal system, currency, language

    Constitutional. The official currency is the Kwanza (AOA). The official language is Portuguese.

  • Corporate presence requirements & payroll set-up

    A foreign entity may engage employees in Angola with proper payroll registrations, subject to business, corporate and tax considerations. The employer is responsible for withholding from an employee's pay, and delivering to the tax authority, income tax and contributions to Angolan social security. The level of income tax is defined by the government and varies in line with the employee's salary.

  • Pre-hire checks

    Required

    Immigration compliance and pre-hire medical examinations.

    Permissible

    Reference and education checks are permissible.

  • Immigration

    Criminal and medical checks must be issued by competent authorities, a criminal record must be issued by the home country and a medical certificate must be issued by a doctor in the employee’s home country.

    The visa/work permit requirements for overseas nationals to work in Angola are having a recognized travel document valid for the Angolan territory for at least 6 months, being of legal age, not being included in the national list of undesirable persons prohibited from entering into the national territory, not constituting a danger to public order or to social security interests, complying with all health regulations established by the Ministry of Health for entry into the national territory, having an employment contract or promissory employment contract, having a certificate of professional and educational qualifications and curriculum vitae, and obtaining a positive opinion of the competent Ministry.

  • Hiring options

    Employee

    Indefinite-term contract (which is the rule), fixed-term or open-term (ie, a term contract whose termination date has not yet been defined, but that will be terminated as soon as the underlying need for contracting is no longer verified – for example, as a contract to cover absence), part-time contract, telework contract and contract under service commission regime – a particular type of contract for high-level employees which provides flexibility for termination and is not common. The parties may execute an employment contract for a fixed term or open term, which must be done in writing.  Part-time, fixed-term and open-term employees may not be discriminated against due to their status.

    Independent contractor

    Independent contractors may be engaged directly by the company or via a personal services company. Engagement may be subject to misclassification exposure. The factors that tend to indicate an individual is an employee (rather than, for example, a self-employed independent contractor) are the existence of a work schedule, the scheduling of vacation, the worker’s legal subordination to the company, the company’s authority, direction and disciplinary powers, control of punctuality and attendance over the individual, integration into the structure of the company and use of work tools belonging to the company, among others.

    In the event of misclassification, the relationship may be converted into an employment relationship on a permanent basis, and the employer may be liable to pay a fine for non-compliance.

    Agency worker

    Agency workers may only be engaged to fulfill a temporary need for work. The agency work contract duration depends on the underlying reason for hiring and does not typically exceed 24 months. Agency workers have the right to equal treatment to employees in relation to pay and other regular benefits.

  • Employment contracts & policies

    Employment contracts

    Written employment contracts are common but not mandatory, except for fixed-term, part-time, telework and service commission regime contracts as well as contracts with foreign employees and underage employees. Employment contracts cannot contain conditions that are less favorable to employees than mandatory employment legislation.

    Probationary periods

    Permissible.

    Employment contracts for an unlimited period of time may be subject to a probation period corresponding to the first 60 days of performance of work; the parties may, by written agreement, reduce or waive this period.

    The parties may extend the probation period, in writing, to up to 4 months in case of employees who perform highly technical, complex work that is difficult to evaluate, and to up to 6 months in case of employees who perform management duties.

    In an employment contract for a limited period of time, the parties may set forth a probation period in writing, and its duration cannot exceed 15 days in case of non-qualified employees, or 30 days in case of qualified employees. Angolan law does not define qualified and non-qualified, but the common practice is that qualified employees correspond to positions that involve technical complexity, a high degree of responsibility or special qualifications as well as those carrying out functions of trust.

    Policies

    Employers with more than 50 employees must, in order to organize the work and labor discipline, draft and approve employee handbooks, guidelines, instructions, service orders and work rules defining rules for the technical organization of work, performance of work and work discipline, delegation of powers, employee job descriptions, safety, hygiene and health protection of work, performance indicators, a remuneration system, working hours for the several sections of the company or work center, control of entrances and exits and circulation within the premises of the company, and surveillance and control of production.

    Employers with 50 or fewer employees may, but are not required to, implement employee handbooks on the matters described above.

    Third-party approval

    Whenever the employee’s handbook or any other rules and regulations establish rules on performance and discipline, remuneration systems, work performance or safety, hygiene and health protection at work, the employer must forward such regulations for information and registration purposes to the General Labor Inspectorate.

  • Language requirements

    Portuguese. Nevertheless, employment contracts and other documents may be drafted in a bilingual template.

  • Working time, time off work & minimum wage

    Employees entitled to minimum employment rights

    All employees are entitled to minimum employment rights.

    Working hours

    Maximum daily and weekly working hours are 8 hours per day and 44 hours per week. Overtime pay is required for hours worked in excess of these limits. These limits are inapplicable to employees who perform direction and leadership duties, duties of inspection, or provide direct support to the employer (ie, employees who may be exempt from a work schedule). In case the employee usually performs their work outside the company's premises, an exemption regime may also be agreed upon by the parties, in which case those limits shall not apply. Typically, employees under the exemption regime are entitled to an exemption bonus.

    Overtime

    Overtime may occur with an extraordinary increase in workload, to prevent serious damage or if due to majeure force. It is subject to the following maximum limits: (a) 2 hours per day, (b) 40 hours per month and (c) 200 hours per year.

    Overtime must be compensated with additional payment (ie, an increase of hourly rates) up to 30 hours per month: 50 percent, 30 percent, 20 percent and 10 percent depending on whether it is a large, medium, small or micro company dependent on number of employees and turnover. A company which is a subsidiary or branch of a company with headquarters abroad always qualifies as a large company. Overtime that exceeds that limit is paid for each hour at an additional 75 percent, 45 percent, 20 percent and 10 percent depending on whether it is a large, medium, small or micro company.

    Wages

    The minimum wage is established by Presidential Decree. It is set out as a general minimum wage, but there is also a minimum wage for trade and extractive industry groups, transport services and manufacturing groups and agriculture groups. Under the Decree currently in force, the general minimum wage is AOA32,181.15. The following sector-specific minimum wages also apply:

    • Trade and extractive industry groups: AOA48,271.73
    • Transport services and manufacturing groups: AOA40,226.44 and
    • Agriculture groups: AOA32,181.15.

    Vacation

    Minimum 22 working days per year, plus 12 public national holidays.

    Sick leave & pay

    Employees are entitled to take off as much time as they need for sick leave. For large and medium companies: In case of incapacity to work due to illness or common accident, pay is required in the amount corresponding to 100 percent of the base salary for a period of 2 months. For as long as the employee is not entitled to protection in case of illness or common accident from the social security authorities, the employer must pay to the employee 50 percent of salary from the 3rd to the 12th month.

    In case of small and micro companies: The employee is paid, in case of illness or common accident, the amount of 50 percent of the base salary within 90 days, after which the contract is terminated by expiration if the condition of illness remains.

    Maternity/parental leave & pay

    A pregnant employee is entitled to a paid maternity leave of 3 months. The amount of the maternity allowance is equal to the average of the 2 best monthly salaries from the 6 months preceding the commencement of the maternity leave. The maternity allowance is paid directly by the employer to the employee and, subsequently, the Social Security services reimburse the employer in full. Fathers are not entitled to any leave on the birth of a child; it is only considered as a justifiable reason for absence from work for 1 day.

    Other leave/time off work

    Employees may also be entitled to leave for other purposes, such as for their wedding; fulfillment of legal or military obligations which must be performed within the normal working period; attendance to tests by working students; attendance of training, professional proficiency, professional qualification or job conversion courses authorized by the employer; participation in cultural or sporting activities, either in representation of the country or the company or in official contests; the performance of necessary and urgent action in the exercise of leading tasks in labor unions as a union representative or as a member of the employee’s representative body; or the  participation of the employee as a candidate to general or municipal elections approved by the competent authority.

  • Discrimination & harassment

    Discrimination based on the following protected characteristics is prohibited: race, color, gender, ethnic origin, marital status, origin or social rank, religious beliefs, political opinion, union affiliation and language.

  • Whistleblowing

    There is no special provision in this regard in Angola. Protection is only granted in the course of criminal action at the request of a whistleblower or by decision of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

  • Benefits & pensions

    Both employer and employee must pay contributions to social security in Angola to cover various employee benefits (eg, maternity leave payment and retirement pension). The employer must withhold the contribution due by the employee and deliver both contributions (ie, employer and employee) to social security every month.

    Current general rates are 3 percent of the gross wage for the employee and 8 percent for the employer.

    Employees with a minimum contributory period (ie, 35 years) qualify for a retirement pension at age 60 or in cases of total incapacity.

    Employers have no legal obligation to provide complementary or supplementary social benefits in addition to the social coverage provided for by the social public scheme. However, some companies – mostly large companies or multinational companies who have their own schemes worldwide – set up and provide private complementary health and pension schemes to their employees.

  • Data privacy

    The Data Privacy Law No. 22/11, June 17 governs Angolan data privacy and determines, in general terms, how to collect, use, disclose, store and give access to "personal information."

    There is no specific regulation on employee data privacy.

  • Rules in transactions/business transfers

    Provided that the same business activity is maintained, the new employer takes the position of the former employer in the employment contracts and takes their position in respect of the rights and obligations arising from the employment relationships. This is the case even if the employment contract is terminated before the transfer. The new employer takes their position as the employer of such former employees in respect of due and non-paid credits. All credits, rights and obligations of the employer arising from the execution and implementation of the employment contract, its violation or termination are subject to a statute of limitations of 1 year starting on the day following the day of termination of the contract. Employees keep the same seniority and acquired rights which they had in the service of their former employer.

    The new employer undertakes the obligations of the former employer limited to those incurred during the 12 months prior to the modification, provided that, up to 22 business days prior to the modification, the new employer gives notice to the employees that they must claim their credits up to the 2nd business day prior to the date scheduled for such modification. Within 22 business days following the modification of employer, the employees have the right to terminate the employment contract with prior notice, but this does not confer any right to compensation.

  • Employee representation

    Employee representative bodies are permissible but not mandatory.

    Trade unions are not common in Angola.

    In order to carry out their duties, trade union representatives are entitled to 4 paid hours a month but must notify the employer in advance of the date and number of days they require for the exercise of trade union functions. Employers are obliged to provide a suitable place for workers' meetings whenever this is requested by the union representatives. Special protections against dismissal are granted to employees who perform, or have performed, duties as union representatives, either as leaders or delegates, or members of the employees’ representative body performing union-related activities.

  • Termination

    Grounds

    Unilateral termination by the employer: dismissal based on objective grounds (ie, redundancy reasons); disciplinary dismissal with just cause (ie, based on serious breach of the employee's duties).

    Termination without cause (with notice): only for employees hired under an employment contract of service commission regime (a particular type of contract for high-level employees which provides flexibility for termination but is not common).

    Other termination causes: mutual agreement, termination by the employee (ie, termination with notice or constructive dismissal with just cause), expiration (ie, fixed-term and open-term contracts or retirement).

    Employees subject to termination laws

    All employees.

    Restricted or prohibited terminations

    Special protection against dismissal is granted to employees who perform, or have performed, duties as union representatives, either as leaders or delegates, or members of the employees’ representative body performing activities; women covered by the regime of maternity protection; war veterans as per the definition provided by the applicable law; employees under the legal age; employees with a reduced work capacity or with a disability degree equal or higher than 20 percent.

    As a general rule, a copy of the notice served on the employee must be forwarded to General Labor Inspectorate.

    Third-party approval for termination/termination documents

    Except in respect of protected employees, third-party approval is not required to terminate an employment.

    Mass layoff rules

    If economic, technological or structural circumstances occur, which may be clearly demonstrated and which involve an internal reorganization or conversion, or the reduction or the shutting down of activities, which makes it necessary to eliminate or significantly change job positions, the employer may terminate the employment contracts of the employees who perform such job positions.

    Collective dismissal rules are triggered if the dismissal involves at least 20 employees.

    Information to the General Labour Inspectorate is required. However, there is no need to obtain approval for termination.

    The General Labor Inspectorate may undertake the diligence deemed necessary for clarification of the situation and, in case of a collective dismissal, during the period in which the evaluation of the General Labor Inspectorate occurs, the employer may promote a meeting with the representative body or with the committee appointed for the purpose of exchange of information and clarification and may forward the conclusions of the meetings to the General Labor Inspectorate.

    Notice

    For individual dismissals based on objective grounds (up to 20 employees): the employer must forward, at least 30 days in advance, prior notice of dismissal to the employee or employees who occupy the job positions to be extinguished or transformed.

    For collective dismissal: the prior notice is 60 days.

    Notice periods in case of term contract: 15 business days if its duration is equal to or higher than 3 months.

    Statutory right to pay in lieu of notice or garden leave

    Payment in lieu of notice is permitted (and required if the notice period is not honored).

    Garden leave is allowed during the notice period.

    Severance

    Fair dismissal based on objective grounds (redundancy/collective dismissal):

    • Large companies: compensation corresponds to 1 base salary for each year of effective service up to the limit of 5 and an additional 50 percent of the base salary multiplied by the number of years of service that exceed such limit
    • Medium companies: compensation corresponds to 1 base salary for each year of effective service up to the limit of 3 and an additional 40 percent of the base salary multiplied by the number of years of service which exceed such limit
    • Small companies: compensation corresponds to 2 base salary and an additional 30 percent of the base salary multiplied by the number of years of service which exceed the limit of 2 years
    • Micro companies: compensation corresponds to 2 base salary and an additional 20 percent of the base salary multiplied by the number of years of service which exceed the limit of 2 years

       

      Fair disciplinary dismissal: no severance.

      Higher severance payments may be agreed and are usual as a way to avoid litigation.

  • Post-termination restraints

    A clause of the employment contract which restricts the activity of the employee for a period of time, which may not exceed 3 years from the termination of the contract, is lawful if the following conditions are met: (a) such clause is included, in writing, in the employment contract, or in its addendum; (b) the activity performed may cause real damage to the employer and may be considered as unfair competition; (c) the employee is paid a salary during the period of restriction of work: the corresponding amount will be included in the contract or its addendum, and it must be taken into account, in its calculation, the fact that the employer may have incurred in significant expenses in the professional training of the employee.

    A clause which requires an employee who benefits from professional improvement or higher level education at the expense of the employer to remain at the service of the same employer for a certain period of time, provided that such period does not exceed 1 year, in case of training of professional improvement and up to 3 years in case of courses of high level education, is also lawful if established in writing. In this case, the employee may release themselves from remaining at the employer’s service by repaying to the employer the amount of the expenses incurred by the employer, in proportion to the remaining time until the term of the agreed period. The employer that hires the employee within the period of restriction of activity in the company is jointly liable for the damages caused by the employee or for the amount not returned by the employee.

  • Waivers

    In principle, statutory rights cannot be waived and any waiver of such rights will be null and void.

  • Remedies

    Discrimination

    Fine corresponding to 5 to 10 times the average salary paid by the company.

    Unfair Dismissal

    The employee may challenge the validity of the dismissal before the labor courts.

    If the relevant court declares the dismissal to be unlawful, by final judgment, the employer must immediately re-instate the employee in the same job position and benefiting from the same previous conditions, or, alternatively, shall indemnify the employee (compensation is different depending on whether it is a large, medium, small or micro company and the cause of dismissal).

    In addition to re-instatement or the compensation, the employee is entitled to the base salaries they would have received if they had continued to perform work, until the date on which the employee finds a new job or up to the date of final judgment, whichever comes first, with a maximum limit of 6 months of base salary for large companies, 4 months to medium companies and 2 months for small and micro companies.

    Failure to inform and consult

    Not applicable.

  • Criminal sanctions

    Typically, non-compliance with employment laws leads to administrative proceedings which may lead to the payment of fines. If such non-compliance is based on violation of rights that deserve protection under criminal law, it may also lead to this type of judicial proceedings.

  • Key contacts
    João Guedes
    João Guedes
    Partner DLA Piper [email protected] View bio
    Daniela Rosa
    Daniela Rosa
    Senior Associate DLA Piper [email protected] View bio
    Islândia Ribeiro
    Islândia Ribeiro
    Senior Associate DLA Piper Africa [email protected] T +244 923 612 525 View bio

Legal system, currency, language

Angola

Constitutional. The official currency is the Kwanza (AOA). The official language is Portuguese.

Argentina

Constitutional and civil law with certain application of case law. The official currency is the Argentine Peso (ARS). The official language is Spanish.

Australia

Common law jurisdiction with employment laws that operate at both the federal and state levels. The official currency is the Australian dollar (AUD). The official language is English.

Austria

Civil law. Member of the European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official language is German.

Bahrain

Civil law system. Employment matters are governed by Law No. 36 of 2012 (Labor Law) as amended. The official currency is the Bahraini Dinar (BHD). The official language is Arabic.

Belgium

Civil law. Member of European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official languages are Dutch, French and German.

Brazil

Civil law. The official currency is the Brazilian Real (BRL). The official language is Portuguese.

Canada

Common law throughout the majority of the country and civil law in the province of Quebec. The official currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD). The official languages are English and French.

Chile

Continental law. The official currency is the Chilean peso (CLP). The official language is Spanish.

China

Civil law. The official currency is the Chinese Renminbi (CNY). The official language is Mandarin.

Colombia

Civil law. The official currency is the Colombian Peso (COP). The official language is Spanish.

Czech Republic

Civil law. Member of the European Union. The official currency is the Czech Crown (CZK). The official language is Czech.

Denmark

Civil law. Member of the EU and required to implement relevant EU Directives. The official currency is the Danish kroner (DKK). The official language is Danish.

Finland

Civil law. Member of the European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official languages are Finnish and Swedish.

France

Civil law. Member of the European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official language is French.

Germany

Civil law. Member of the European Union (EU) and required to implement relevant EU Directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official language is German.

Hong Kong, SAR

Common law. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) provides that courts of HKSAR may refer to the precedents of other common law jurisdictions when making decisions. The official currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD). The official languages are English and Chinese.

Hungary

Civil law. Member of the European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF). The official language is Hungarian.

India

India uses a common law legal system, except in the State of Goa, which has a civil code. The official currency is the Indian Rupee (INR). India is a multilinguistic country with many languages and dialects across the country. The official languages of the union government are Hindi and English. Individual states may set their own official language.

Additionally, in a major move to streamline, simplify and reform Indian employment laws, the Indian government has legislated 4 labor codes. These new codes are expected to significantly impact labor reforms, affecting more than 500 million organized and unorganized workers in India, including work structures such as “gig workers.” The codes are not yet in effect, nor has the government indicated when they will be put into effect. Below is a brief overview of the codes:

  1. The Code on Social Security, 2020 (SS Code) intends to consolidate, into a single code, 9 central labor statutes related to social security, which inter alia include the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952; the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948; the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961; the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972; and the Unorganized Workers' Social Security Act, 2008. It proposes to extend the social security benefits to employees and workers, in both the organized and the unorganized sectors, including “gig”
  2. The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (IR Code) intends to consolidate and amend the existing laws relating to conditions of employment in an industrial establishment and proposes to subsume, into a single code, 3 central labor statutes: the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947; the Trade Unions Act, 1926; and the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act (IESO Act). A key feature of the IR Code is that it proposes to increase the threshold for applicability of the provision relating to the requirement of taking the prior permission of the appropriate government before layoff, retrenchment and closure from 100 to 300 workmen. It also seeks to provide fixed-term employees with all the benefits akin to permanent workers (including gratuity), except for notice upon conclusion of a fixed period and retrenchment compensation. The employer has been provided with the flexibility to employ workers on a fixed-term basis based on requirement and without restriction on any sector.
  3. The Occupational Health, Safety and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code) seeks to consolidate and amend the laws regulating the occupational health, safety and working conditions of the persons employed in an establishment. It subsumes and replaces 13 central labor statutes including inter alia the Factories Act, 1948; the Mines Act, 1952; the Dock Workers Act, 1986; and the Contract Labour Act (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.
  4. The Code on Wages, 2019 (Wage Code) consolidates 4 central labor laws relating to wage, bonus and related matters: the Payment of Wages Act, 1936; the Minimum Wages Act, 1948; the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965; and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.

Indonesia

Civil law. The official currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). The official language is Bahasa Indonesia.

Ireland

Common law. Member of the EU and required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official language is English.

Israel

Strong common law heritage with elements from other legal systems. New Israeli Shekel (ILS). Hebrew and Arabic (English commonly spoken).

Italy

Civil law. Member of European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official language is Italian.

Japan

Civil law. The official currency is the Japanese yen (JPY). The official language is Japanese.

Kenya

Common law. The official currency is the Kenya Shilling (KES). The official languages are Swahili and English.

Kuwait

Civil law; employment matters are governed by Law No. 6 of 2010 (the Labor Law), as amended. There are also relevant provisions in the Penal Code and Civil Code. The official currency is the Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD). The official language is Arabic.

Luxembourg

Civil law. Member of the European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official languages are French, German and Luxembourgish.

Malaysia

Common law and statute. Malaysian Ringgit(MYR)/Ringgit Malaysia(RM). Malay/Bahasa Malaysia and English.

Mexico

Civil law. The official currency is the Mexican Peso (MXN). The official language is Spanish.

Morocco

Civil law, inspired by French law. The official currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). The official language is Arabic, but French is common for business purposes.

Mozambique

Civil law. The official currency is the Mozambican Metical (MZM). The official language is Portuguese.

Myanmar

New civil laws co-exist with the old British colonial laws and regulations, and the laws and regulations issued by the various military governments over the last fifty years. Further, there has been a liberal application over the last few decades of "policies and practices," which are not detailed in any laws or regulations and are often unpublished.

Myanmar/Burmese Kyat (MMK).

The official language is Burmese. English has become increasingly popular in the business community. In practice, dual language (Burmese/English) contracts will be required to ensure that all parties understand the contents of the employment contract.

Netherlands

Civil law. Member of the European Union, so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official language is Dutch.

New Zealand

Common law. The official currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD). The official language is English.

Nigeria

The legal system in Nigeria consists of a) Nigerian legislation; b) English law, which includes the common law, doctrine of equity and statutes of general application in force in England on January 1, 1900; c) Sharia law, applicable in some parts of the North, and customary law; and d) judicial precedent.

The official currency is the Nigerian Naira (NGN). The official language is English.

Norway

Civil law. The official currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK). The official language is Norwegian.

Oman

Federal and civil legal system; employment matters are governed by the Oman Labor Law issued by Royal Decree 35/2003 (Labor Law), as amended. There are also relevant provisions in the Penal Code and Civil Code. The official currency is the Omani Rial (OMR). The official language is Arabic.

Peru

Civil law. The official currency is the Sol (PEN). The official language is Spanish.

Philippines

Civil law. The official currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP). The official languages are English and Filipino.

Poland

Civil law. Member of the European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Polish zloty (PLN). The official language is Polish.

Portugal

Civil law. Member of European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official language is Portuguese.

Qatar

Employment matters are predominately governed by Law No. 14 of 2004 (the Labor Law) (as amended). There are also relevant provisions in Law No (21) of 2015 (Sponsorship Law) (as amended) and its Executive Regulations No. 25 of 2019 that primarily govern the sponsorship, residence and exit of expatriate employees.

Companies established in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) will be governed by QFC laws and regulations with the primary employment law provisions being contained in QFC Regulation No (10) of 2006 (Employment Regulations) (as amended) and QFC Regulation No (11) of 2006  (Immigration Regulations)(as amended). This guide focuses on the State of Qatar (Qatar) labor laws.

The local currency in Qatar is the Qatari Riyal (QAR). The QAR is pegged to the US dollar. The official language of Qatar is Arabic. Legislation in Qatar is primarily drafted and issued in Arabic and all Qatari court proceedings are heard in Arabic.

Romania

Civil law. Member of the European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Romanian leu (RON). The official language is Romanian.

Russia

Civil law. The official currency is the Russian Ruble (RUB). The official language is Russian.

Saudi Arabia

Shariah law is the applicable law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia or KSA). Despite being a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Saudi Arabia is generally not required to implement the relevant GCC laws except where it enacts them into law through domestic legislation. Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR) is the national currency. Arabic is the official language, though English is increasing in recognition.

Singapore

Common law. The official currency is the Singapore dollar (SGD). The official languages are English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. English is the main language of law and business.

Slovak Republic

Civil law. Member of the European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official language is Slovak.

South Africa

Common law, civil law and customary law, subject to the Constitution. The official currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). There are 11 official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.

South Korea

Civil law, though court precedents play an important role. The official currency is the South Korean won (KRW). The official language is Korean.

Spain

Civil law. Member of European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Euro (EUR). The official language is Spanish.

Sweden

Civil law. Member of European Union (EU), so required to implement relevant EU directives. The official currency is the Swedish Krona (SEK). The official language is Swedish.

Switzerland

Civil law. Not a member of the European Union (EU), but member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Swiss Francs (CHF). German, French, and Italian.

Taiwan, Republic of China

Civil law. The official currency is the New Taiwan dollar (TWD). The official language is Mandarin.

Thailand

Civil law based on various laws and practices, particularly the Napoleonic Code and German civil law. The official currency is the Thai Baht (THB). The official language is Thai.

Tunisia

Hybrid system of French civil law and Islamic Law, Tunisian Dinar (TND) and Arabic.

Turkey

Civil law. The official currency is the Turkish lira (TRY). The official language is Turkish.

Uganda

Common law. Member of the African Union (AU), so required to implement relevant AU directives. The official currency is the Uganda Shilling (UGX). The official language is English.

Ukraine

Civil law. The official currency is the hryvnia (UAH). The official language is Ukrainian.

United Arab Emirates

Federal and civil legal system; employment matters are governed by Federal Law No. 33 of 2021 (the Labor Law), as amended. There are additionally relevant provisions in the Penal Code and Civil Code. The official currency is the Dirham (AED). The official language is Arabic.

In addition to the Federal system, the United Arab Emirates contains around 44 economic free zone areas where goods and services can be traded. The majority of the economic free zones are subject to the Labor Law, with some of the free zones, such as the Dubai Development Authority, subject to additional labor law provisions. The DIFC and ADGM free zones are governed by 2 separate labor laws which are specific to the DIFC and ADGM entities and which differ from the Labor Law.

United Kingdom

Common law. The official currency is the pound sterling (GBP). The UK left the European Union (EU) on January 31, 2020; however, the UK's exit was followed by a transition period during which the UK was still subject to EU rules. The transition period ended on December 31, 2020. However, while there is now no freedom of movement  of workers between the UK and the EU, there is little immediate impact on employment laws which will continue to apply until UK legislators seek to make changes – which, under the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement agreed between the UK and EU, are only permitted if they do not impact on trade or investment. If draft legislation currently under consideration becomes law, all EU-derived subordinate legislation and retained direct EU legislation (ie, regulations and decisions) will be revoked at the end of 2023 unless reinstated or amended.

The official language is English.

United States

Combination of federal statutory law, state statutory and common law, and local statutory law. Regulations vary significantly from state to state. The official currency is the US dollar (USD). The official language is English.

Venezuela

Civil law. The official currency is the Bolívar (VES). The official languages are Spanish and local native languages.

Vietnam

Civil law. The official currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). The official language is Vietnamese, but English has become increasingly popular in the business community.