Bolivia
Currency
Bs (BOB)
Working Hours
40/Week
Bolivia is in South American, bordering Brazil to the southwest. It has a growing, resource-rich economy. Raw mining materials, natural gas, and hydrocarbons are some of Bolivia’s largest exports.
Bolivia has a labor force of around 6 million. The world’s highest navigable lake, Titicaca, is in Bolivia.
Employment Contracts
Employment contracts in Bolivia should be written. A written contract should include both parties’ details, the nature of the job, salary, workplace location and date of contract and contract period if a fixed-term contract.
Working Hours
Standard working hours within Bolivia are 8 hours per day, up to a maximum of 6 working days.
Overtime
All work more than the standard working hours a week is to be paid as overtime and is regulated by employment contract/collective agreements. In general, overtime maximum limits are set at 2 hours per day and paid 200.00% of the standard salary rate.
Maternity, Paternity & Parental Leave
Maternity Leave
All female employees are eligible for maternity benefits, consisting of 90 days paid maternity leave, 45 days before the due date, and 45 days after.
The employer will pay the maternity benefit at 100.00% of the national minimum wage; the employer will receive a reimbursement of 90.00% from social security.
Paternity Leave
The father is entitled to mandatory paid paternity leave of 3 days.
Parental Leave
There are no provisions in the law regarding parental leave.
Other Types of Leave
There is no other statutory leave in Bolivia.
Health Insurance Benefits
Universal health care coverage in Bolivia includes pregnancy and post-natal care up to six months and for infants younger than five years old. All residents can qualify for the healthcare program known as Seguro Universal Materno Infantil Maternal.
Payroll, Tax & Contributions
Employer Employer Payroll Contributions
2.00% - Housing
1.71% - Professional Risk Premium
10.00% - National Healthcare
3.00% - Employer Solidarity Contribution
16.71% - Total Employment Cost
Employee Employee Payroll Contributions
10.00% - Long-term SSO Contribution (Disability, Old Age and Death)
1.71% - Common Risk
0.50% - Pensionary Fund Commission
0.50% - Solidarity Contribution for Pension
12.71% - Total Employee Cost
Employee Income Tax
13.00% - Flat Rate
Payroll Cycle
Salaries are paid monthly on the last day working day of the month.
13th Salary
A 13th salary is required at the end of the year and is equivalent to one month’s pay (Aguinaldo). The Christmas bonus is not subject to tax and social security contributions.
14th-month is also a mandatory bonus if GDP is over 4.50% or makes annual profits. All employees must receive one additional monthly salary, subject to a cap of 25.00% of the company’s profits (Profit bonus (Prima).
VAT
The standard rate of VAT in Bolivia is 13.00%.
Compensation
The monthly minimum wage in Bolivia is 2,250 BOB.
Sick Leave
All employees are entitled to up to 26 weeks of paid sick leave per year and must provide a medical certificate within 48 hours of the first day of sickness.
The employer pays the sick pay at 100.00% of the regular salary rate (to be reimbursed at a rate of 75.00% from the social security) from the 5th day of sickness.
Vacation Leave
Paid leave in Bolivia is outlined in the employment contract as a minimum of 15 days paid leave a year (following completion of 1-year service) in addition to public holidays.
This increases to 20 days paid leave once the employee has been employed for five years and increases after ten years of service to 30 days paid leave per year.
Public Holidays
There are 10 public holidays.
Date Day Holiday Note
01 Jan 24 - Monday - New Year’s Day
22 Jan 24 - Monday - Plurinational State Day
12 Feb 24 - Monday - Carnival
13 Feb 24 - Tuesday - Carnival
29 Mar 24 - Friday - Good Friday
01 May 24 - Wednesday - Labour Day
30 May 24 - Thursday - Corpus Christi
21 Jun 24 - Friday - Aymara New Year
06 Aug 24 - Tuesday - National Day
02 Nov 24 - Saturday - All Souls’ Day
25 Dec 24 - Wednesday - Christmas Day
Employment/Termination/Severance
The termination process is standard in Bolivia based on the prescribed list of termination reasons contained within article 16 of the General Labour Law unless an employer can provide sufficient cause for dismissal without notice.
Notice of termination must be in writing and sent to the relevant governmental authorities.
Notice Period
According to Bolivian labor law, there is no mandatory notice period.
Severance Pay
In Bolivia, severance pay is mandatory if applicable. Still, the amount differs based on the type of termination, i.e., termination by an employee, termination by mutual agreement, termination without cause, and termination with a cause in an indefinite term agreement and fixed-term agreement.
It is common for a severance payment to be calculated as one month’s regular salary payment for each completed year of service.
Probation Period
Probation periods in Bolivia for permanent employees are generally between 1 and 3 months.
VISA
Any foreigners coming to work in Bolivia will need to be registered with the Labor Ministry.
Foreign employees do not require work permits, but their work agreements must be registered with the Bolivian labor authorities within 90 days of signing. Employees need a special purpose visa to sign the agreement and a one-year residence visa.
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Local Laws & Regulations
We understand that local laws and regulations change and sourcing an accurate reference guide is not easy. Our data is researched and verified by our team of local international Employment Attorneys, HR and Benefit Professionals and Tax Accountants through our Atlas team and consultants, to ensure information up-to-date and accurate.
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