Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and a major economic hub.
Payroll and Benefits Guide - Morocco
Fun Facts
The Moroccan city of Essaouira is a UNESCO World Heritage site and known for its beautiful beaches, strong winds, and annual music festivals.
The ancient city of Chefchaouen is famous for its blue-painted streets and buildings.
Morocco is one of the world’s largest producers of argan oil.
Arabic and Berber are the official languages of Morocco, while French is widely spoken.
The traditional Moroccan garment for men is called a djellaba, while women often wear kaftans or hijabs.
Contributions
Employee Payroll Tax
| Contribution Type | Rate |
| Social Allocation/Benefits | 4.29% |
| Health Insurance | 2.26% |
| Social Solidarity | 1.50% |
Employer Payroll Tax
tr>Professional Training Tax1.60%tr>Social Solidarity1.50%tr>Social Solidarity2.50%tr>Social Solidarity3.50%tr>Social Solidarity5.00%
| Contribution Type | Rate |
| Family Allocation | 6.40% |
| Social Allocation/Benefits | 8.60% |
| Health Insurance | 4.11% |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
The usual payroll frequency is monthly, with payments typically made on the final day of the month.
13th Salary
While there are no specific legal requirements for 13th salaries, it is customary to provide 13th-month bonuses and/or seniority bonuses to employees as a common practice.
Work Hours and Week
In accordance with Law Article 184 “code du travail” (Labor Code), the standard workweek consists of 44 hours, with a maximum limit of 10 hours per day.
Overtime
All working hours of more than the standard working hours per week are to be paid as overtime and are regulated by employment contracts/collective agreements. It must also be mutually agreed upon before any overtime work is done.
In general, maximum overtime limits must not exceed 138 hours over four months and 250 hours annually.
Leave
Paid Time Off
After six months of continuous service, an employee accumulates 1.5 days of leave per month up to a standard entitlement of 18 paid days of annual leave. This can be increased to 24 days per year for employees under the age of 18 years old.
Public Holidays
Public holidays that fall on the weekend are usually lost.
Religious holidays are determined by the lunar cycle and will show as tentative until they are confirmed nearer the date of the holiday.
Sick Days
Employees are entitled to four days (or eight half days) of paid sick leave per year. If the absence lasts more than four days, the employee must inform the employer of the probable duration of absence and provide a medical certificate justifying the absence reason. An employer has the right to request the employee resign if they have more than 180 consecutive days sick during one year.
Maternity Leave
Pregnant employees receive 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, seven weeks before birth, and seven weeks after. The maternity payment is at the rate of the regular salary rate and paid by the employer. Mothers can also request to take up to a year of additional unpaid leave.
Paternity Leave
Fathers are entitled to three days of paid paternity leave within the first month of the child’s birth.
Parental Leave
There is no parental leave apart from maternity and paternity leave.
Termination
Termination Process
Employers can terminate a fix term contract for the following reasons – business, personal, or worker’s misconduct. It requires notice and a written explanation for the termination. If the reason is misconduct, a warning needs to be given and the employee gets a chance to explain actions.
Notice Period
Collective agreements may contain provisions on notice periods. If notice periods in the collective agreement differ from the statutory notice periods, the employer and the employee observe the notice periods in the collective agreement.
The amount of notice is dependent on the function of the employee and the length of service.
Severance Pay
Employers should pay severance pay (if applicable) if an employee has at least six months’ service at 96 hours of salary per year of service, increasing to 144 hours per year after five years of service, 192 hours per year after ten years, and 240 hours per year after 15 years.
The severance hourly rate is calculated based on the average wages received during the 52 weeks preceding the termination of the contract.
Probation Period
Probation Period
All employees are subject to a 1-week trial period for any role. The following probation period differs dependent on job position/status, i.e., 15 days for blue-collar workers, 45 days for white-collar workers, and three months for management.
Immigration
Foreigners wishing to work in Morocco must obtain a work permit (attestation de travail) from the National Agency for the Promotion and Employment of Skills (Agence Nationale de Promotion de l’Emploi et des Competences) more commonly known as ANAPEC, before entering the country. The documents required for getting a work permit include:
- Application forms with the appropriate stamps
- Passport copies
- Photographs, passport-size
- Employment contract copy (legalized by the government office)
- Copies of degrees and diplomas
The Ministry of Labour and Professional Integration requires all employers seeking to sponsor foreign nationals for employment in Morocco via the online portal Taechir. Upon completing the online application process, the system will generate three copies of E-Work Permit forms which must be printed, stamped, and signed by the foreign national and the authorized signatory of the sponsoring entity. Both signatures must be certified by a notary public or legalized by the respective Moroccan consular post abroad.
Once finalized, the foreigner must submit the original forms and all documentary requirements to the Moroccan Department of Employment for approval.
Once this is complete, the foreigner may enter the country to commence work.
VAT
The Standard rate of VAT in Morocco is 20.00%.