South Africa

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Congratulations on your decision to hire employees in South Africa! As a vibrant country known for its rich cultural heritage and dynamic economy, South Africa can serve as a great base for businesses expanding in Africa. Plane simplifies the hiring process for you by offering automated tax document collection, payroll, benefits administration, and more, while ensuring compliance and maximum efficiency. Still, hiring in a new country can pose certain challenges, so we’ve put together the following guide on how to navigate the process of hiring in South Africa.

Currency

ZAR

 Onboarding

2.5 weeks minimum

Employer Cost

7.1%

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Public Holidays

12

4 Considerations Before Hiring in South Africa

As an employer in South Africa, it is important to have a comprehensive employment contract that outlines the terms and conditions of the employment relationship. The contract should include need-to-know info on compensation, benefits, vacation time, and sick leave policies. Before onboarding a new employee in South Africa, take a moment to consider the following:

Does your employee have the right to work in South Africa?

You must check that your employee has the right to work in South Africa — either by being a citizen or permanent resident of South Africa, or by having a foreign passport with a valid work visa such as a General Work Visa, Critical Skills Work Visa, or Intra-company Transfer Work Visa. 

Plane Recommendation

Plane helps you conduct a Right to Work verification check for any employees before you onboard them.

Will there be a probationary period? If so, for how long?
How many days of paid time off will be provided?
Should you offer additional incentives?

Getting Started with Hiring in South Africa

Employment Contract

In South Africa, an employment contract can either be for an indefinite term or a fixed-term, but fixed-term contracts must be used for work for a specific period necessary to fulfill the temporary needs of a business. The document must be in a language that the employee can understand.

Hire Calculator

Get an instant, free estimate of how much it will cost to employ your next hire, including taxes.

Once you have sorted out the details mentioned above, you can add the employee to the Plane platform. We provide a step-by-step workflow that shows what tasks need to be completed, as well as real-time updates and notifications. This way, you can stay on top of the hiring process at all times. With Plane, you can confidently hire, knowing that you have a powerful platform at your disposal to manage the entire process from start to finish. Here are the instructions for adding a new employee to the platform:

How to hire and onboard an employee

Plane offers a guided process for administrators and managers to hire and onboard their new employees.

Hiring an employee in a new country can be a complex process, but with the right guidance and resources, it can be a smooth and successful transition. At Plane, we're committed to helping you navigate this process step-by-step. We'll keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest regulations and employment laws.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about hiring employees outside of the US with Plane:

What is the relationship between my company and Plane?

Pilot Platform Inc (Plane) provides the product and service by helping you manage HR, payroll, and statutory requirements. Plane has its own entities and partners that are the EOR/legal employer where the employee is legally hired in the country. Plane and our partner do not manage the performance of the employees since we do not monitor or work directly with them.

Can Plane withhold taxes for non-cash compensation (e.g. stocks, options)?
Will I be able to pay a bonus, commission, or any other additional payments?
Can Plane guarantee the employee’s start date?