Sait Lucia PEO & Employer of Record

WeHG provides an International PEO and vglobal Employer of Record service in Sait Lucia to companies willing to enter the Sait Lucia market or hire local/expat employees in this country.

Traditional approach requires establishing a subsidiary in Sait Lucia.  Meanwhile, our Employer of Record solution allows you to start the operations in Sait Lucia within days hence save time and money.  WeHG would recruit candidates on your behalf while you maintain full operational control of their work. So legally they would be our employees, on our local payroll, 100% compliant but will work on your behalf. 

Sait Lucia fast facts

Population, million: 183,627
Land area, sq. km: 617 km²
Capital: Castries
Local currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$)

GDP per capita:$ 13,708
GDP in currency:$2.84 billion
Economic growth percentage: 7.22%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.07%
Volume of export: $ 97 million
Import of goods and services: $ 997 million
Total population: 183,627
Population of working age (15-64)

Saint Lucia is a fertile island country in the Caribbean Sea. Its closest neighbours are the islands of Martinique, to the north, and Saint Vincent, to the south-west. It was formed by volcanic activity. Its geographic features include a central ridge of mountains, many rivers and boiling sulphur springs. It is surrounded by sandy beaches. 

Hiring, Negotiating and Doing Business in Sait Lucia

Necessity of written employment contract

The Saint Lucia Labour Code guides and regulates the terms and conditions of employment. Division 1 “Contracts of Employment” applies to all persons engaged under contracts of employment. The Act mandates that “Within fourteen days from the date on which employment commences, an employer may prepare a written contract correctly describing the terms and conditions of employment that have been agreed upon by the employer and employee”. The Code also states that “where a contract of employment is not written the employer shall explain to the employee the contents of the contact of employment….”. The Code further states that “upon written request to the employer, an employee who is not employed under a written contract shall be given, within one month of the request, a written contract.

Sait Lucia Employment Contract

Types of employment agreements

Fixed-term and short-term contracts.

Sait Lucia working hours

With the exception of Shift workers, the normal hours of work of any Employee shall be thirty-seven and a half (37 ½) hours each week, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 12:30, and 1:30 pm. to 4:30 pm.

Overtime

Overtime shall be paid at the rate of time and one half for every hour in excess of normal time on a working day and double time on Sundays, Public and designated holidays before the midnight hour.

Vacation leave in Sait Lucia

Vacation leave shall be calculated in working days: Mondays to Fridays excluding Holidays. Time off to attend to urgent private matters should be taken from accumulated vacation leave. Where there is no accumulated leave, the Employer may agree to give time off not exceeding five (5) working days without loss of pay, in any one (1) year.

Sick leave

Sick leave shall be granted in accordance with the Fire Service Regulations and Staff Orders for the Public Service.

Sait Lucia Maternity Leave

The progressive new policy includes up to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave for mothers and eight weeks for fathers. It is applicable whether employees become parents biologically, via surrogacy or through adoption.

Sait Lucia Severance Laws

An employer shall not dismiss an employee or institute disciplinary action based on —

• an employee’s race, sex, religion, colour, ethnic origin, national extraction, indigenous origin, social origin, political opinion or affiliation, trade union affiliation or activity, disability, sexual orientation, serious family responsibility or marital status;
• an employee’s age, subject to any other enactment in force, or collective bargaining provisions or contractual provisions regarding retirement;
• a female employee’s maternity leave or benefits, pregnancy or a reason connected with her pregnancy;
• an employee’s exercise of any of his or her organizational or associative rights as specified under this Code;
• an employee’s temporary absence from work because of sickness or injury.

An employee is entitled to terminate the contract of employment without notice or with less notice than that to which the employer is entitled by any statutory provision or contractual term on grounds of constructive dismissal where the employer’s conduct has made it unreasonable to expect the employee to continue the employment relationship. Where the contract of employment is terminated by the employee pursuant to subsection (1), the employee shall be deemed to have been unfairly dismissed by the employer and shall be entitled to compensation in accordance with this Code.

Notice to be given by the Employer to the Employee 

• Not less than 1 week – if the employee has worked continuously over 12 weeks but less than 2 years. 
• Not less than 2 weeks – if the employee has worked continuously over 2 years but less than 5 years. 
• Not less than 4 weeks – if the employee has worked continuously over 5 years but less than 10 years. 
• Not less than 6 weeks – if the employee has worked continuously over 10 years.

Notice to be given the Employee to the Employer 

• not less than 1 week – if the employee has worked continuously over 12 weeks but less than 5 years. 
• not less than 2 weeks – if the employee worked continuously over 5 years 

Both employer and employee can agree to longer periods of notice.

Sait Lucia Tax

Individual income tax rate   

  Up to XCD 833.33  = 10% 

  XCD 833.34 – 1,666.66 = 20% 

  Over XCD 1,666.676 = 30% 

Social security contributions – Both employees and employers must contribute 5% of employee  earnings to social security, up to XCD 5,000 per month.

Health Insurance Benefits in Sait Lucia

Sait Lucia Holidays

• New Year’s Day
• Good Friday
• Easter Monday
• Whit Monday
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day

Why Choose WeHireGlobally

WeHG takes care of all the onboarding hurdles, payroll, compensation and benefits, tax filing, and termination of employment. Our Employer of Record solution allows you to manage your overseas teams efficiently while minimizing cost and risk.