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Antigua and Barbuda EOR & PEO

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Simple, compliant hiring with Horizons EOR & PEO

Hire in Antigua and Barbuda

Are you thinking about expanding your business and hiring in Antigua and Barbuda? This beautiful twin-island nation in the Caribbean is known for its stunning beaches and exciting culture. With a population of just under 100,000 people, Antigua and Barbuda can provide some excellent opportunities for businesses looking to grow throughout the world.

The economy here is led mainly by tourism, but there are also growing sectors in finance, agriculture, and information technology. The country has a stable political environment and a strong commitment to attracting foreign investment, making it a very appealing destination for businesses.

When hiring in Antigua and Barbuda, you’ll find a well-educated workforce with a high literacy rate. The local government supports business growth through various incentives and a pro-business regulatory framework. However, understanding local labor laws and employment practices is very important. Partnering with an Employer of Record (EOR) can simplify this process, handling all the legal and administrative tasks while you work on finding the right talent for your growing business.

Facts & Stats

EOR Platform

Hire in Antigua and Barbuda, and pay employees through our platform or app.

EOR Cost

Our Antigua and Barbuda EOR solution is the most affordable on the market.

Time-to-hire

Fast Antigua and Barbuda onboarding, hire in as little as 24 hours.

Contracts

We draft compliant Antigua and Barbuda labor contracts.

Local benefits

We manage all Antigua and Barbuda mandatory benefits.

180+ Countries

It doesn’t stop with Antigua and Barbuda — we hire employees globally.

hire employees in Antigua and Barbuda

What Is an Antigua and Barbuda EOR?

An Antigua and Barbuda Employer of Record is a third-party company that manages the legal and administrative responsibilities of employing workers in Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of your business. This means they take care of everything from payroll and taxes to benefits and compliance with local labor laws. Essentially, the EOR becomes the official employer for your staff in Antigua and Barbuda, while you still manage their day-to-day tasks and overall performance. This setup allows you to focus on growing your business without getting bogged down by the complexities of local employment regulations.

The terms “Employer of Record” and “Professional Employer Organization” (PEO) are usually used interchangeably and mean the same thing. Both EORs and PEOs handle HR tasks and legal responsibilities for other businesses. By partnering with an EOR or PEO, you can streamline your hiring process and ensure compliance with all local laws, making it much easier to manage your workforce in Antigua and Barbuda.

Save Money And Time with A Antigua and Barbuda EOR

What Are the Benefits of an Antigua and Barbuda EOR?

Using an Employer of Record in Antigua and Barbuda comes with a host of benefits that make expanding your business here much easier.

  1. Takes care of all the employment-related legal and administrative tasks: You don’t have to worry about managing payroll, handling taxes, or ensuring compliance with local labor laws. This means you can focus on what you do best – growing your business.
  2. Speed and ease of hiring local talent: Setting up a local entity can be a very difficult and time-consuming process, but with an EOR, you can quickly hire employees without needing to establish a formal presence in the country. This flexibility allows you to scale your operations up or down based on your business needs without getting bogged down in bureaucracy and red tape.
  3. Helps minimize any risks associated with employment: They stay updated on any changes in labor laws and ensure that your business remains compliant, reducing the risk of fines and legal issues. This is very important in a country where the regulatory environment might be unfamiliar to foreign businesses. Also, the EOR handles all employment contracts, making sure they are legally sound and tailored to meet local standards.
  4. Positive impact on employee satisfaction: An EOR manages employee benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans, ensuring that your team receives the perks they deserve. This can go a long way toward improving morale and retention rates, helping you build a motivated and loyal workforce. Furthermore, the EOR provides support with employee onboarding and offboarding, ensuring a smooth transition for new hires and departing staff.

Partnering with an Antigua and Barbuda EOR is a great way to simplify the hiring process, ensure legal compliance, reduce administrative burdens, and help you focus on growing your business. It’s a smart move for any company looking to expand into the Antigua and Barbuda market.

Horizons is Best IN Class

Why Choose Horizons?

Horizons stands out as a Antigua and Barbuda EOR through:

  1. A strong regional presence in North America, meaning senior management are on the ground to deal with any issues.
  2. Client-focused infrastructure. Horizons won’t oversell you on products and services you don’t need. Horizons offers the easiest platform to compliantly hire and pay people worldwide.
  3. Cost-effective solutions. At $499 per employee, per month, no EOR in Antigua and Barbuda is more affordable. The cost is 100% transparent (onboarding, offboarding, deposit, no extra charges).
  4. A customer-first culture. Horizons is an efficient bootstrapped company. It is not an externally-funded company burning investor cash to aggressively acquire new clients. Horizons is the only EOR that grows with its customer, reflecting the level of care and personal attention provided to each customer. Horizons will carefully advise on the best setup in each country: the type of contract needed, how to structure your benefits, and how to offboard a person while minimizing the risk of conflicts and extra cost
  5. A long-term partnership. Horizons is the only EOR platform with a recruitment arm — a direct response to client demand. If any employee is leaving, or if our clients want to explore a new country, Horizons can recruit new candidates directly for the client.  Horizons is:
    • The only EOR doing this in-house — no subcontracting
    • The only EOR doing this without a retainer — clients are only charged upon success
    • The only EOR charging just a 2% fee per month
Step-by-step Antigua and Barbuda EOR

How Does an Antigua and Barbuda EOR Work?

When you engage a Antigua and Barbuda EOR, it will:

  1. Hire your Antigua and Barbuda employees. The Antigua and Barbuda EOR becomes the legal employer of your employees in Antigua and Barbuda, taking care of legal and HR responsibilities. This leaves you to focus on day-to-day company operations.
  2. Manage employment contracts and onboarding. The EOR assists in drafting compliant Antigua and Barbuda labor contracts, including terms on salary, benefits, working hours, and termination procedures. They also manage the onboarding process, ensuring that employees are legally registered and understand their employment terms.
  3. Process payroll and handle employment taxes. The Antigua and Barbuda EOR takes care of payroll processing, ensuring accurate calculation of wages, social benefits, and taxes according to Antiguan regulations. They also handle tax filings and ensure compliance with local tax laws, reducing the risk of penalties for non-compliance.
  4. Administer benefits. The Antigua and Barbuda EOR can provide employees with access to competitive benefits packages, including health insurance, pension schemes, and other perks. Since EORs pool employees from multiple companies, they often can negotiate better rates for these benefits.
  5. Take care of exit procedures. If an employment relationship needs to end, the EOR handles the termination process in accordance with Antiguan labor law, including severance payments and the final settlement.

To summarize, when your company engages a Antigua and Barbuda EOR, your business is able to focus on strategic objectives and operational needs within the Antiguan market, with the EOR taking care of HR functions and legal compliance.

stay compliant with Antigua and Barbuda labor laws

Labor Laws

One of the principal reasons for engaging an EOR in Antigua and Barbuda is to ensure full compliance with  Antigua and Barbuda’s employment laws. Here we explain in detail how a  Antigua and Barbuda EOR ensures:

  1. Compliance with  Antigua and Barbuda employment contract requirements
  2. Compliance with working hours, national holiday provisions, and Antigua and Barbuda social security requirements.

Employment contract types

In Antigua and Barbuda, employment contracts can be either permanent or fixed-term. Permanent contracts offer ongoing employment without a set end date, providing job security and long-term benefits. Fixed-term contracts are for a specific duration or project and have a clear start and end date. These are often used for temporary or seasonal work. 

Project-based

Probationary period

No probationary period.

Termination

At completion of the project.

Severance

Not applicable

Fixed-term

Probationary period

Typically up to 3 months

Termination notice period

Not applicable

Severance

Not applicable

Indefinite

Probationary period

Typically up to 3 months

Termination notice period

1 week to 30 days

Severance

1 week's salary per year of service

Working hours in Antigua and Barbuda

The standard working hours in Antigua and Barbuda are typically 40 hours per week, spread over five days. Most businesses operate from Monday to Friday, with an eight-hour workday. According to the Antigua and Barbuda Labor Code, any work beyond these standard hours is considered overtime and must be compensated at a higher rate.

Overtime must be compensated in the following way:

For a regular workday:

150% of the standard hourly rate

For a rest day:

200% of the standard hourly rate

For a statutory holiday:

200% of the standard hourly rate

In 2024, Antigua and Barbuda will observe several public holidays that hold important cultural and national significance. On these days, employees typically have the day off with pay. If they are required to work on a public holiday, they must be compensated at a higher rate, usually double their regular pay. 

DateHoliday name
1 Jan, 2024New Year’s Day
29 Mar, 2024Good Friday
1 Apr, 2024Easter Monday
6 May, 2024Labor Day
20 May, 2024Whit Monday
5 Aug to 6 AugCarnival 
1 Nov, 2024Independence Day
9 Dec, 2024V.C Bird Day
25 Dec, 2024Christmas Day
26 Dec, 2024Boxing Day

 

Paid time off

Employees in Antigua and Barbuda are entitled to paid time off , which includes vacation leave and public holidays. Full-time employees generally earn a minimum of 14 days of paid vacation per year, as per the Employment Act.

Under 1 year of employment

no leave entitlement

1-10 years of employment

14 days of paid leave annually

10-20 years of employment

14 days of paid leave annually

20+ years of employment

14 days of paid leave annually

Sick leave in Antigua and Barbuda

Sick leave in Antigua and Barbuda allows employees to take time off when they are ill without losing pay. Full-time employees are generally entitled to a minimum of 12 days of paid sick leave per year. To qualify for paid sick leave, employees may need to provide a medical certificate if they are absent for more than two consecutive days.

Less than 6 months of sick leave:

(percentage of regular wages owed to the employee)

Under 1 year of employment

no leave entitlement

1-10 years of employment

12 days of paid leave annually

10-20 years of employment

12 days of paid leave annually

20+ years of employment

12 days of paid leave annually

Over 6 months of sick leave

Under 1 year of employment

Unpaid (unless specified in the employment contract or under special circumstances)

1-3 years of employment

Unpaid (unless specified in the employment contract or under special circumstances)

3+ years of employment

Unpaid (unless specified in the employment contract or under special circumstances)

In order for employees to receive the full wages due to them, workers must present a valid medical certificate from a certified doctor to their employer.

Maternity leave in Antigua and Barbuda

Female employees are entitled to a minimum of 12 weeks (3 months) of maternity leave.

Paternity leave is less formalized in the Labour Code compared to maternity leave. However, many employers offer paternity leave as part of their employment policies. The standard practice, where offered, is usually 1 to 2 weeks of paid paternity leave, but this can vary significantly depending on the employer.

Annual leave in Antigua and Barbuda

In Antigua and Barbuda, full-time employees are entitled to a minimum of 15 days of paid annual leave each year after completing one year of service, as per the Employment Act. Employers can choose to offer more, but 15 days is the standard minimum. Annual leave should be scheduled in advance and agreed upon by both the employer and employee, ensuring that business operations are not disrupted.

Termination & severance in Antigua and Barbuda

Termination of employment in Antigua and Barbuda must follow specific legal procedures to ensure fairness. Employers must provide notice or payment in lieu of notice, with the notice period depending on the employee’s length of service. For employees with less than one year of service, the notice period is typically one week. For those with longer service, the notice period increases. Severance pay is required for employees terminated without cause, generally amounting to one week’s pay for each year of service. 

Antigua and Barbuda's compulsory social security contributions

In Antigua and Barbuda, social security contributions are mandatory payments made by both employers and employees to the Social Security Board, which funds various benefits such as sickness, maternity, invalidity, retirement, and  more. The total contribution to social security is 9% of the employee’s gross earnings.

Social security contributions are an essential part of the social safety net in Antigua and Barbuda, providing financial support to individuals and their families in various situations. 

Antigua and Barbuda social security for foreigners

Foreign workers employed in Antigua and Barbuda are typically required to contribute to the Social Security Board just like local employees. Foreign workers who contribute to the social security system are eligible for the same benefits as local workers, including sickness, maternity, invalidity, retirement pensions, and more, depending on the number of contributions made.

Individual income tax

Antigua and Barbuda do not impose personal income tax on individuals. This means that residents, including both local citizens and foreign workers, are not required to pay taxes on their income earned within the country.

Health insurance

The government provides a range of health services through public hospitals and clinics, including primary care, emergency services, and specialized treatments. These services are often free or heavily subsidized for residents. While public health care is available, it may be limited in terms of the range of services, waiting times, and availability of specialized care or advanced treatments.

Many residents, especially expatriates and those who prefer access to a wider range of medical services, opt for private health insurance. Employers often provide health insurance as part of an employee benefits package. Group insurance plans are usually more affordable and may offer better coverage than individual plans.

hassle-free Antiguan compensation & benefits

Compensation & Benefits

Antigua and Barbuda compensation laws

The set minimum wage in Antigua and Barbuda is EC$8.20 per hour, which all employers must adhere to. According to the Antigua and Barbuda Labor Code, any overtime work must be compensated at a higher rate, usually 1.5 times the regular hourly wage. 

13 month salary in Antigua and Barbuda

The concept of a 13th month salary is not a standard practice in Antigua and Barbuda. Instead, bonuses and additional compensation are often performance-based or given at the discretion of the employer. 

Social security for Antiguan nationals

Social security contributions in Antigua and Barbuda are crucial for supporting various social benefits, including pensions and healthcare. Both employers and employees contribute to the Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Scheme. Employers deduct a portion of the employee’s salary and match it with their own contribution. 

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Hire in Antigua and Barbuda in 24h without your own local entity.

With Horizons, you get quick service, transparent pricing, and expert support.

Frequently asked questions

An Employer of Record in Antigua and Barbuda takes care of all the details to ensure your business complies with local labor laws. They handle everything from drafting legal employment contracts to processing payroll and managing taxes. The EOR stays updated on any changes in labor laws and regulations, ensuring that your business operations remain compliant. This allows you to focus on running your business while the EOR manages all the legal aspects.

Using an EOR for hiring in Antigua and Barbuda offers several key benefits. It simplifies the hiring process by taking care of all administrative and legal tasks, allowing you to quickly and easily bring on local talent without setting up a local entity. Additionally, an EOR ensures compliance with local labor laws, reducing the risk of fines or legal issues. This means you can focus on growing your business while the EOR handles the difficulties of employment, making the expansion process smoother and easier.

What to expect when you connect with Horizons

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