An EOR is a third-party organisation that acts as the legal employer of your staff in South Africa. The EOR handles all compliance, payroll, tax, and HR responsibilities, allowing you to focus on your business operations.
Key Responsibilities of an EOR:
- Drafting employment contracts.
- Managing payroll processing and tax deductions.
- Ensuring compliance with labour laws.
- Handling employee benefits like medical schemes and retirement plans.
- Managing terminations and dispute resolution procedures.
- Providing basic local HR and compliance expertise.
Benefits of Using an EOR
1. Compliance Assurance
- Ensures adherence to South African employment laws, mitigating risks of penalties and disputes.
- Provides legal security for employers.
2. Cost-Effective Solution
- Avoids the high costs of establishing a local entity and hiring internal HR teams.
- Reduces administrative overhead and legal consulting fees.
3. Quick Setup
- Employees can be onboarded within 48 hours.
- Accelerates market entry without lengthy legal procedures.
4. Access to Top Talent
- Enables hiring the best talent South Africa has to offer, overcoming legal and administrative barriers.
- Promotes cultural diversity and team dynamism.
5. Scalability and Flexibility
- Allows businesses to scale up or down quickly based on project needs.
- Supports short-term projects and flexible workforce arrangements.
6. Focus on Core Operations
- Frees up resources to concentrate on business growth and strategic goals.
- Eliminates distractions caused by HR and compliance complexities.
Monthly Payroll Process with EOR
Key Milestones:
- Payroll Input Deadline: Around the 10th of each month.
- Payroll Finalisation and Approval: Around the 12th of each month.
- Invoice Issuance: 10 days before payroll date.
- Fund Transfers: 5 days before payroll date.
- Salary Payments: Reflect in employee accounts by the 25th of each month.
When to Use an EOR
- Long-Term Employment: When hiring employees as part of core operations.
- Market Testing: To explore new markets without committing to a local entity.
- Short-Term Projects: For temporary assignments or maternity cover.
- Remote Work Policies: To allow employees to work abroad without compliance risks.
- Specialist Roles: For accessing specific skills not available locally.
Conclusion
Partnering with an Employer of Record (EOR) provides a seamless and compliant solution for hiring employees in South Africa. It mitigates legal risks, simplifies administrative processes, and accelerates market entry. Whether you are testing new markets, hiring remote teams, or expanding operations, an EOR offers a cost-effective and flexible approach to global workforce management.
For more information or to discuss how we can assist with your employment needs in South Africa, contact us today.
Example of Taxes Payable on a Typical South African Salary
Set out below is the total cost to the company for a South African employee based on a gross remuneration of R20,000.00:
- UIF Monthly Contribution: 1% employee deduction & 1% employer contribution, limited to a gross remuneration of R17,712.00.
- On a gross remuneration of R20,000.00, the cost will be:
- R177.12 deduction from the employee’s salary.
- R177.12 contribution by the employer.
- UIF is a government unemployment insurance fund that provides payouts to employees in case of retrenchment.
- On a gross remuneration of R20,000.00, the cost will be:
- SDL Monthly Contribution: 1% employer contribution based on gross remuneration.
- On a gross remuneration of R20,000.00, the cost will be:
- R200.00 employer contribution.
- SDL is the government skills development levy.
- On a gross remuneration of R20,000.00, the cost will be:
- WCA Annual Contribution: Employer contribution of approximately 1% of annual gross remuneration.
- On a gross remuneration of R20,000.00, the cost will be:
- Around R2,400.00 employer contribution.
- WCA (Workmen’s Compensation) is a government fund that contributes to employees’ medical expenses for job-related injuries.
- This cost varies as the percentage contribution is announced annually.
- On a gross remuneration of R20,000.00, the cost will be:
Summary of Total Cost to Company for an Employee Earning a Monthly Gross Remuneration of R20,000.00
Monthly Costs:
- R20,000.00 salary.
- R177.12 UIF contribution.
- R200.00 SDL contribution.
Total Monthly Cost: R20,377.12
Annual Costs:
- R2,400.00 WCA contribution.
Total Annual Cost to Company: R246,925.44
Fees for operating Employer on Record: