Benin

Supplementary employee benefits in Benin

Healthcare

The Benin government mandated private sector employers to provide and pay for compulsory health coverage to their employees under the ARCH scheme, effective January 1, 2022. Benin citizens rely heavily on the public healthcare system. However, expansion in the private healthcare system has been observed as urbanization accelerated.

Healthcare is the most important employee benefit to offer in Benin. Employers provide health insurance to their employees in Benin by subscribing to group health policies. Expats are advised to obtain coverage of international medical health plans before arriving.

A pioneer in health insurance with its third-party payment system, ASCOMA has a number of showcase products. With the ASCOMA Health Card, companies and individuals can cover current medical expenses, including optical, dentistry, pharmacy, consultations, and hospitalization. Today, Ascoma’s third-party care network has expanded throughout the country, enabling clients’ employees to have optimal access to healthcare.

Retirement

The prevalence of employer-sponsored voluntary occupational pension schemes is low in Benin. A few employers provide retirement benefits through supplementary group retirement savings insurance. These contracts are established through collective bargaining agreements.

Short-term and long-term disability

These insurance products are not available in the country.

Death & AD&D

The prevalence of these insurance products in low.

Mandatory employee benefits

Pension

The social protection system for pensions in Benin comprises:

National Social Security Fund (La Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale du Bénin – CNSS) for private and Para-governmental sector employees.
National Pension Fund of Benin (Fonds national des retraites du Bénin – FNRB) for civil servants.

Employer-employee contributions fund the CNSS, which provides old-age retirement, disability, and survivors’ benefits under the supervision of the Ministry of Labor and Public Service. The employee contributes 3.6% of their payroll, while the employer contributes 15.4% of the payroll towards the social security system in the country (6.4% towards pension and 9% towards family allowance).

Medical

Employees are entitled to medical benefits by the CNSS for work-related accidents and illnesses. It also covers accidents sustained while going to or coming from work.

The Universal Health Insurance Plan –Régime d’Assurance Maladie Universelle, enabrégé (RAMU), the universal healthcare plan covering the entire population, was replaced by ARCH in 2019. The ARCH scheme is expected to be fully implemented by 2030.

Participation in the plan is compulsory, and formal and informal sector workers contribute to the system. The government contributes on behalf of the people without any income source. The services may require co-payment. Apart from the health-related benefits, it also provides rehabilitation support and transportation expenses to avail of the services.

Disability

The employer contributes 1–4% of the payroll towards workers’ compensation. Employees are entitled to cash benefits for work-related injuries that result in disabilities.

Death

Death benefits are available for spouses and dependant children. A funeral grant is available to the person who paid for the funeral.

ASCOMA provided this information about employee benefits in Benin. Should you need support with your benefits in the country, contact Asinta, and we will put you in touch with the experts at ASCOMA.

Nothing on this country page is intended to be legal, financial, or tax advice, and readers are advised to consult with their appropriate advisors regarding any legal, financial, or tax implications this information may address.

Egypt

Mandatory employee benefits in Egypt (Social Security)

Medical

Egypt’s mandatory medical insurance scheme has three tiers of coverage – low, mid-market, and high-end – that span in-patient and out-patient treatments, maternity, evacuation, dental, and vision, among others.

Mandatory Leaves & Employer Leave Practices

According to Egypt’s labor law, employees receive the following leaves:

Maternity leave – 90 days of paid maternity leave and 45 days following the birth of a baby.
Paternity leave – There is no paternity leave in the labor law. However, most employers grant one day when a new baby is born.
Annual leave – Employees are entitled to 21 days of paid annual leave per year if employed for at least 6 consecutive months.
Bereavement leave – There is no bereavement leave in the labor law. However, most employers grant 3 to 5 days when there is a death in the family.

Supplementary employee benefits

In addition to Egypt’s mandatory benefits scheme, most employers offer the following insured benefits.

Private medical insurance– More than 60% of employers offer health insurance via private carriers with a wide network of healthcare providers.
Life/disability – 34% of employers offer life and disability insurance.
Pension schemes – About 44% of employers offer private pension schemes in addition to the social insurance pension/retirement scheme.

Other employer-sponsored benefits include death, disability, and pension.

Perks

It is market practice to offer the following allowances:

Transportation allowance depending on seniority
Telecommunication allowance depending on job type
Meal allowance for certain segments (hospitality, manufacturing, etc.)

Associated Insurance Consultants provided this information about employee benefits in Egypt. If you need support with your benefits in the country, please contact Asinta, and we will put you in touch with the local experts at Associated Insurance Consultants.

Nothing in this country page is intended to be legal, financial, or tax advice, and readers are advised to consult with their appropriate advisors regarding any legal, financial, or tax implications this information may address.

Saudi Arabia

Mandatory employee benefits in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has a large expatriate population, 30% of the total population. The Social Insurance Organization in Saudi Arabia (GOSI) provides the following benefits.

For Saudi nationals:

Work-related accidents and indemnities and occupational hazards
Temporary disability
Death or permanent disability
Unemployment insurance

For expatriates:

Expatriates would benefit only from work-related accident indemnities and occupational hazard insurance.

Contributions are as follows:

Saudi Nationals (private & public sector) – 22% of the maximum monthly applicable earnings (9% each for the employee and employer for an annuity (pension). In addition, the following contributions are payable only by employers: 1% each for unemployment contribution and 2% for occupational hazard.
Expatriates – 2% for occupational hazard payable by employers only.

GOSI does not cover medical treatment (except for work-related accidents).

Pension

Typical pension schemes are offered at a 5.33% contribution payable by the employer.

Leaves

The labor law dictates the following leaves:

Maternity leave – 70 days
Paternity leave – 3 days during the first week after the birth of their child.
Annual leave – 21 days of paid annual leave increased to 30 days after 5 consecutive years with one employer.
Bereavement Leave – 5 days of paid leave following the death of their spouse, ascendants, or descendants.
to between the employer and employee.
Examination leave
Hajj Leave – 10 to 15 days to perform Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca, including the Eid Al-Adha holiday.
Marriage Leave – 5 working days’ paid leave for marriage.

End-of-Service Gratuity

All employees (including KSA nationals), regardless of their length of service, are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity of a half-month’s wage for each of the first five years and a one-month wage for each of the following years.

Supplementary employee benefits

Medical

Medical insurance is compulsory in Saudi Arabia, and private insurers provide it. Employers must give medical insurance to all employees (Saudi nationals and expatriates), their families, and dependents without any number limitation.

The Council of Health Insurance (CHI) regulates the compulsory medical insurance scheme. Failure by employers to provide medical insurance at all times to employees and their families will result in fines and penalties imposed on them. CHI also mandates the minimum benefits for compulsory health insurance and the applicable general conditions.

Death and Disability

Only 8% of employers provide death and disability benefits, but awareness about this kind of benefit is increasing year over year.

Pension

Private pension schemes are in their starting phases and are yet to be developed.

This information about employee benefits in Saudi Arabia is provided by Associated Insurance Consultants. If you need support with your benefits in the country, please contact Asinta, and we will put you in touch with the experts at Associated Insurance Consultants.

Nothing in this country page is intended to be legal, financial, or tax advice, and readers are advised to consult with their appropriate advisors regarding any legal, financial, or tax implications this information may address.

Togo

Mandatory employee benefits

Retirement (Pension)

In Togo, the social protection system consists of:

National Social Security Fund (CaisseNationale de SécuritéSociale – CNSS) and
Pension Fund of Togo for civil servants, military or magistrates, and agents of the State (Caisse deRetraites du Togo – CRT)

The CNSS protects employed persons, public-sector salaried employees, salaried agricultural workers, and informal-sector workers. Both the employer and employee contributions to the scheme. The employee contributes 4% of the gross monthly earnings, while the employer contributes 17.5% of the salary (12.5% towards old-age pension). The monthly remuneration used for calculating contributions must not be less than the minimum wage.

Medical Insurance

Under the labor code, employers must provide medical services to employees and:

Create a medical service facility if the workforce exceeds 1,000 employees or offer a business-to-business medical service.
Have an agreement with a registered medical center if the workforce is less than 100 employees.

A state-sponsored plan covers the medical care for the country’s most vulnerable populations.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is governed by the Social Security Law and supported by the employer’s 2% gross salary contribution. It covers work-related accidents and injuries sustained while coming to and from work.

Disability – Sickness Benefits

According to Articles 55 and 58 of the Labor Code, in the event of an employee’s inability to work due to non-occupational illness, the employee receives compensation from the employer depending on the number of employment years. Employees get 100% of their salary for the first 5 days of absence.

There are also benefits available for temporary, permanent, and partial disability.

Death & AD&D

These benefits include a survivor’s pension, an orphan’s pension, and a pension for dependent parents and grandparents. A funeral grant is also available.

Supplementary employee benefits

Retirement

Employers provide supplementary retirement benefits through group pension plans. These contracts are established through collective bargaining agreements.

Employers also provide end-of-career allowance benefits to employees when an employee terminates their employment with the company, retires, or dies.

Medical Insurance

Employers in the country provide medical benefits through group health insurance plans. The group medical insurance plans offer emergency evacuation facilities for severe health issues. Expats are suggested to obtain coverage under group medical insurance plans.

Disability

Employer-sponsored short-term and long-term disability benefits are not common in Togo.

Death and AD&D

Employers provide the following:

Death benefits through a group life insurance plan and group death insurance plans.
Accidental death and dismemberment benefits through group life insurance and group personal accident insurance plans.

ASCOMA provided this information about employee benefits in Togo. Should you need support with your benefits in the country, contact Asinta, and we will put you in touch with the experts at ASCOMA.

Nothing on this country page is intended to be legal, financial, or tax advice, and readers are advised to consult with their appropriate advisors regarding any legal, financial, or tax implications this information may address.

Madagascar

Mandatory Employee Benefits in Madagascar

Retirement

The state offers a defined benefit plan called the Malagasy Social Security Scheme (le régime malgache de sécurité sociale) for private sector employees. Employers contribute 13% of the gross wage (eight times the legal minimum wage), of which 9.5% goes into old age, disability, and survivor’s pension, and employees contribute 1% of their gross wages (eight times the legal minimum wage) towards the benefits offered by the scheme.

Medical

The State funds the National Solidarity Fund for Health (CNSS) for most of the underprivileged population. Employers must contribute 5% of the gross wage (eight times the legal minimum wage), while the employees must contribute 1% of their payroll toward the CNSS.

The public healthcare system of Madagascar offers emergency, general surgery, maternity, specialized services, primary medical services, and prenatal care. However, participation in the private healthcare system is being encouraged, as the system offers the best services in the country with increased funding, modern equipment, and staff availability, which the public healthcare system fails to provide.

Disability

Disability benefits come in the form of workers’ compensation, and temporary and permanent disability benefits and are paid based on a percentage or multiple of an employee’s daily or monthly earnings.

AD&D

Madagascar provides employees’ spouses and other dependent family members with a funeral grant to cover burial expenses and survivor’s benefits are paid as a lump sum or a monthly pension.

Supplementary Employee Benefits in Madagascar

Retirement

A few large employers provide supplementary retirement benefits through a defined benefit group pension plan. The employee is entitled to a life annuity, a lump sum, or revalued annuities at the contract’s maturity (60 years). It also covers the benefits in the case of death or permanent total disability or, dismissal or resignation.

Medical

Companies offer employer-sponsored voluntary medical benefits through health insurance plans to their employees. Expats are suggested to obtain coverage of international medical insurance plans that provide emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage for serious illnesses.

Disability

Employer-sponsored standalone short-term disability benefits plans are not prevalent in the country.

Death

In Madagascar, employers provide death and AD&D benefits to employees through a group risk plan comprising pension insurance, death insurance, permanent total disability, death or permanent partial disability due to an accident, and total temporary incapacity resulting from an accident.

ASCOMA provided this information about employee benefits in Madagascar. Should you need support with your benefits in the country, contact Asinta, and we will put you in touch with the experts at ASCOMA.

Nothing on this country page is intended to be legal, financial, or tax advice, and readers are advised to consult with their appropriate advisors regarding any legal, financial, or tax implications this information may address.

Gabon

Mandatory employee benefits

The Gabonese Social Security system has four branches:

Health care for employees who have been medically evacuated
Accidents and occupational diseases
Family and maternity benefits
Old age pension, disability, and death (survivors)

Pharmacy and hospitalizations are considered Social Security branches as well.

Following the Presidential Order of August 12, 2007, compulsory health insurance became law. First, it served the disadvantaged (December 2008), and officials then applied it to private sector employees and the self-employed in March 2011.

Under the labor code, employers are responsible for medical care not covered by Social Security and must maintain employees’ salaries during illness.

Employer and employee combined contribution rates as of January 1, 2011, for the social benefits are:

Family allowances 8%
Accidents, occupational diseases 3%
Old age pensions, disability, death (survivors) 2.5% – 5%
Fund evacuations 0.6%
Drug Release 2%
Hospitalization 1.5%
TOTAL 2.5% – 20.1%

ASCOMA provided this information about employee benefits in Gabon. Should you need support with your benefits in the country, contact Asinta, and we will put you in touch with the experts at ASCOMA.

Nothing on this country page is intended to be legal, financial, or tax advice, and readers are advised to consult with their appropriate advisors regarding any legal, financial, or tax implications this information may address.

Niger

Mandatory employee benefits

Retirement Benefits (Defined Benefit)

Social security benefits in Niger are delivered through the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS). It covers all salaried employees and provides old age pension, invalidity, and death benefits. It is funded through employer-employee contributions.

Medical

Citizens access medical benefits via community-based mutual health insurance organizations.

In June 2021, the government of Niger announced a plan known as the national strategy for universal health coverage for 2021-2030, and the government plans to establish a contributory mandatory health insurance scheme for public and private employees, retirees, and self-employed individuals.

Workers’ compensation

Employees are covered for work-related illnesses or injuries. Medical benefits include medical and surgical care, hospitalization, medicine, appliances, transportation, and rehabilitation. This program covers around 90.9% of the working population.

Maternity

An eligible female employee is entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave, of which 6 weeks can be taken before childbirth and 8 after.

Sickness

Employees are entitled to 100% of their earnings for up to three months; for employees in the banking sector, it is paid for up to 12 months. After that, employees are entitled to 50% of the earnings for up to four more months as part of the cash sickness benefit under CNSS.

Supplementary benefits in Niger

Medical

Currently, few employers provide health benefits through group health insurance plans to their employees. Expats should obtain coverage through an international medical insurance plan that covers repatriation costs and offers emergency evacuation services to overseas healthcare institutions.

Retirement

A few employers provide supplementary retirement benefits through defined contribution (DC) group pension plans established via collective bargaining agreements.

Short and long-term disability

These plans are not prevalent in Niger.

Death & AD&D

Employers offer accidental death and dismemberment through group personal accident insurance plans.

ASCOMA provided this information about employee benefits in Niger. Should you need support with your benefits in the country, contact Asinta, and we will put you in touch with the experts at ASCOMA.

Nothing on this country page is intended to be legal, financial, or tax advice, and readers are advised to consult with their appropriate advisors regarding any legal, financial, or tax implications this information may address.

Cameroon

Mandatory employee benefits

Ten percent of the population is covered by the CNPS, which provides old-age pension, early retirement pension, medical, death, disability, and funeral grants to the employees or their beneficiaries. Employees and employers contribute 4.2% of the employees’ wages towards the scheme. The maximum monthly earnings used to calculate contributions is CFA750,000 (US$1,204) in 2023.

Supplementary benefits in Cameroon

Medical

The labor code mandates employers offer medical care for employees and their families through medical centers, health insurance plans, and mutual benefit societies. Furthermore, the dependents receive the same benefits as the insured.

Retirement

The prevalence of employer-sponsored voluntary occupational pension plans is low. A few employers provide supplementary group retirement benefits through retirement plans. If the plans are offered, they are defined contribution (DC).

Short and long-term disability

Employer-sponsored standalone short-term disability plans are not prevalent in the country, and standalone long-term disability plans are not available.

Death & AD&D

The prevalence of employer-sponsored voluntary life insurance is low in Cameroon. A few employers provide death benefits through group life and funeral insurance plans.

The same applies for AD&D, but some employers provide these benefits through group personal accident and group life insurance plans.

Ascoma provided this information about employee benefits in Cameroon. Should you need support with your benefits in the country, contact Asinta, and we will put you in touch with the experts at Ascoma.

Nothing on this country page is intended to be legal, financial, or tax advice, and readers are advised to consult with their appropriate advisors regarding any legal, financial, or tax implications this information may address.

Burundi

Mandatory benefits

Mandatory employee benefits in Burundi include an old-age pension, disability pension, and constant attention allowance. Employers contribute 6% of monthly payroll and 8.8% for employees who perform arduous work. Insured employees pay 4% of their gross monthly earnings, or 5.8% if they participate in arduous work.

Other state-sponsored employee benefits include medical, sickness, and disability coverage.

Supplementary employee benefits

Medical, disability, and sickness benefits – including maternity – are common employee benefits in Burundi. Health plan costs range from 6% of payroll for a lower quartile health plan to 10% of payroll for a top-tier plan.

Employer-sponsored pension plans are also available in the country.

ASCOMA provided this information about employee benefits in Burundi. Should you need support with your benefits in the country, contact Asinta, and we will put you in touch with the experts at ASCOMA.

Nothing on this country page is intended to be legal, financial, or tax advice, and readers are advised to consult with their appropriate advisors regarding any legal, financial, or tax implications this information may address.

Burkina Faso

Mandatory employee benefits

Retirement

State-sponsored retirement benefits include an old-age pension, a disability pension, and a survivor’s pension. In Burkina Faso, the social protection system consists of the following:

Defined benefit National Social Security Fund (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale – CNSS) and
Autonomous Pension Fund for Civil Servants (Caisse autonome de retraite des fonctionnaires – CARFO) schemes

To receive the old-age pension retirement age for blue-collared and voluntarily insured individuals is 56 years. The retirement age for white-collared individuals is 58 years. Supervisors, managers, and technicians’ normal retirement age is 60, while doctors’ and university teachers’ retirement age is 63.

Workers’ compensation – medical benefits

The Social Security Code 2006 governs and covers work-related accidents and illnesses.

Employees are entitled to benefits such as medical, surgical, and dental care, hospitalization, medicine, x-rays, laboratory services, rehabilitation, retraining, and transportation.

Maternity leave is granted for 14 weeks. In the event of additional care required during pregnancy or childbirth, three weeks of paid leave is extended.

Disability

Permanent disability benefits: Employees are entitled to 85% of their monthly wage as a disability benefit in the case of 100% disability.

Death benefit, survivor’s pension

There are three pensions allocated within this benefit – spouse, orphan, and dependent parent/grandparent. A lump sum funeral amount is also part of the survivor’s pension.

Supplementary employee benefits

Retirement

The prevalence of employer-sponsored voluntary occupational pensions in Burkina Faso is low. A few employers provide supplementary group retirement benefits through savings or pension plans.

Medical

The prevalence of employer-sponsored voluntary health insurance in Burkina Faso is low. A few employers provide medical benefits through group health insurance plans to cover non-occupational accidents or illnesses.

Disability

Short-term disability – Standalone short-term disability plans are not available in Burkina Faso. However, a few employers provide short-term disability coverage under group personal accident insurance plans.

Long-term disability – Standalone long-term disability plans are not available in Burkina Faso. However, a few employers provide disability coverage under group personal accident insurance plans.

Death and AD&D

Death – The prevalence of employer-sponsored voluntary life insurance in Burkina Faso is very low. A few employers provide death benefits through pension schemes and group personal accident plans.

AD&D – The prevalence of employer-sponsored voluntary accident insurance in Burkina Faso is low. A few employers provide accidental death and dismemberment benefits through group personal accident insurance plans.

ASCOMA provided this information about employee benefits in Burkina Faso. Should you need support with your benefits in the country, contact Asinta, and we will put you in touch with the experts at ASCOMA.

Nothing on this country page is intended to be legal, financial, or tax advice, and readers are advised to consult with their appropriate advisors regarding any legal, financial, or tax implications this information may address.