The labour code Ivory Coast employers apply in 2026 is Law No. 2015-532 of 20 July 2015, which repealed the 1995 code and was amended by Ordinance No. 2021-902 of 22 December 2021. On 15 April 2026 the government adopted eleven implementing decrees, three of which replace the 1996 texts on the employment contract, notice and internal rules. This guide gives, topic by topic, the articles people consult most, with links to our detailed pages. Updated 10 November 2026.
At a glance:
- Text: Law No. 2015-532 of 20 July 2015, in 11 titles, numbered by title (article 21.2, 110.4…).
- Fixed-term contract (CDD): 2 years maximum including renewals, with a 3% end-of-contract allowance (articles 15.4 and 15.8).
- Working hours: 40 hours a week outside agriculture (article 21.2).
- Paid leave: 2.2 working days per month of actual service (article 25.1).
- Notice: 8 days to 4 months, set since April 2026 by Decree No. 2026-198.
- Disputes: a hearing before the labour inspector is compulsory before going to court (article 81.2).
Where to read the labour code Ivory Coast text as a PDF
The most complete free compilation is the 2025 edition published by the Virtual University of Côte d’Ivoire: the Ivorian Labour Code and its decrees (PDF, UVCI, in French). It brings together the law, the articles amended in 2021, the decrees from 1996 to 2024 and the 1977 interprofessional collective agreement. It is a compilation, not the Official Gazette, which alone is authoritative, and it predates the April 2026 decrees.
The 11 titles of the labour code Ivory Coast
| Title | Subject | Articles |
|---|---|---|
| I | Employment: hiring, contracts, CDD, suspension, termination | 11 to 18 |
| II | Working conditions: hours, night work, women and children, rest, leave | 21 to 27 |
| III | Wages: setting, payment, guarantees, deductions | 31 to 34 |
| IV | Health and safety at work | 41 to 44 |
| V | Trade unions | 51 to 57 |
| VI | Staff delegates, union delegates, works council | 61 to 63 |
| VII | Collective bargaining | 71 to 73 |
| VIII | Individual and collective disputes | 81 and 82 |
| IX | Labour and employment inspection | 91 and 92 |
| X | Penalties | 101 and 102 |
| XI | Transitional and final provisions | 110 |
The code applies to any contract performed in Côte d’Ivoire (article 1), but not to staff appointed to a permanent post in the public administration (article 2).
Hiring under the labour code Ivory Coast rules
Written contract and foreign employees
Contracts are concluded freely, open-ended (CDI) or fixed-term (CDD) (article 14). Decree No. 2026-197 of 15 April 2026, which replaces Decree No. 96-287, requires a written CDD, lists the mandatory clauses, requires French and both signatures, entry in the employer register and a copy for the employee. Outside ECOWAS and WAEMU agreements, a foreign worker’s contract must be approved in advance by the Minister of Labour within eight days; new in 2026, silence now means refusal (articles 8 and 9). Template and details: our guide to the employment contract in Ivory Coast.
Fixed-term contracts and probation
- CDD: 2 years maximum, renewable any number of times within that cap (article 15.4); if no CDI follows, an allowance of 3% of gross pay received (article 15.8).
- Probation: in writing (article 14.5); 8 days for hourly or daily paid staff, 1 month for monthly staff, 2 months for supervisors and technicians, 3 months for managers, renewable once (Decree No. 96-195, article 2). It ends without notice or compensation (article 18.1).
Working hours and overtime in the labour code Ivory Coast
Normal working time is 40 hours a week, and 2,400 hours a year in agriculture (article 21.2); the schedule is posted and sent to the labour inspector (article 21.1). Decree No. 96-203 of 7 March 1996 sets the minimum overtime premiums:
| Hours worked | Minimum premium |
|---|---|
| 41st to 46th hour | 15% |
| Beyond the 46th hour | 50% |
| Night hours | 75% |
| Daytime, Sundays and public holidays | 75% |
| Night, Sundays and public holidays | 100% |
Overtime is capped at 15 hours a week, 3 hours a day and 75 hours a year (article 26 of the decree), and no one may be dismissed for refusing it (article 25). The interprofessional collective agreement (article 51) moves the 50% threshold to after the 48th hour: the two texts differ, so have the rule used in your payroll validated. Night work covers eight consecutive hours between 9 pm and 5 am (Decree No. 96-204); it is banned for under-18s and pregnant women, unless medically cleared (article 22.2). Weekly rest is at least 24 hours, in principle on Sunday (article 24.1).
Wages, SMIG and leave under the labour code Ivory Coast
The SMIG (guaranteed minimum wage) is set by decree, with negotiations every three years (article 31.8): 75,000 FCFA a month since 1 January 2023 (Decree No. 2022-986), with no increase found as of 10 November 2026; see our page on the minimum wage in Ivory Coast. Monthly pay is due no later than eight days after the end of the month (article 32.3), with an individual payslip (article 32.5); wage claims lapse after two years (article 33.5).
Employees earn 2.2 working days of leave per month, or 26.4 days a year (article 25.1), plus 1 day after 5 years’ service and up to 8 days after 30 years (article 25.2). Special leave for family events is capped at 10 days a year (article 25.12); calculations in our guide to leave management in Ivory Coast. Maternity leave lasts 14 weeks, 6 of them before the birth (article 23.6), paid by the CNPS, the social security fund (article 23.11), followed by one hour a day for breastfeeding for fifteen months (article 23.12). The minimum working age is 16, or 14 for apprentices (article 23.2).
Ending a contract under the labour code Ivory Coast
| Rule | Text |
|---|---|
| Termination notified in writing, with reasons when the employer initiates it | Article 18.4 |
| Two paid days off per week of notice | Article 18.6 |
| Notice of 8 days to 4 months by category and seniority, doubled after 6 months for a permanent incapacity above 40% | Decree No. 2026-198 |
| Severance after one year: 30%, 35% then 40% of average monthly total pay per year | Decree No. 2017-210 |
| Unfair dismissal: one month’s gross pay per year of service, between 3 and 20 months | Article 18.15 |
| Staff delegate: prior authorisation from the labour inspector | Article 61.8 |
Example, for illustration only: a monthly paid employee in category 4, dismissed after 8 years, with average total pay of 400,000 FCFA. Her notice is 2 months (6 to 11 years band). Her severance is 5 × 30% + 3 × 35% = 2.55 months, or 1,020,000 FCFA. If the dismissal is ruled unfair, damages come on top: 8 months of gross pay. Full scales: severance pay in Ivory Coast.
Staff representatives, inspection and penalties
- Staff delegates elected for two years (article 61.1) once there are more than ten workers; one delegate and one deputy for 11 to 25 employees (Decree No. 96-207).
- Works council from 300 permanent employees (article 63.1), also governed by a decree of 15 April 2026.
- Internal rules above ten regular workers: 15 days for representatives’ opinion, 30 days for the inspector, then filing at the court registry and posting (Decree No. 2026-199).
- Inspectors: entry without notice, day or night (article 91.8); their reports are authoritative unless proven forged (article 91.6).
- Filings: declaration of the establishment, workforce report before 31 January (Decree No. 2024-902), an up-to-date employer register (article 92.3), workplace accidents reported within 48 hours (article 92.4).
Before court, every individual dispute goes to the labour inspector for an amicable settlement (article 81.2); an employer who fails to attend faces a civil fine of at least 1,000,000 FCFA (article 81.3). Criminal fines range from 500,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA, for example for employing children (article 102.1), and from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA for obstructing staff representatives (article 102.9).
Reforms of the labour code Ivory Coast
| Text | Subject |
|---|---|
| Ordinance No. 2021-902 of 22 December 2021 | Seniority leave, short-time working, work of women and children |
| Decree No. 2022-31 of 12 January 2022 | Teleworking |
| Decree No. 2024-902 of 16 October 2024 | Employers’ reporting obligations |
| Decrees No. 2026-197, 2026-198 and 2026-199 of 15 April 2026 | Employment contract, notice, internal rules (repealing Decrees No. 96-287, 96-200 and 96-197) |
| Other decrees of 15 April 2026 | Part-time work, works council, register, housing, collective agreements, occupational health, hygiene, collective disputes |
These decrees do not change the 2015 law, but you should review your contract templates, termination letters and internal rules. An HRIS keeps deadlines under control: probation and CDD end dates, leave, seniority, payslips. Discover Socium HR and payroll software, compliant with the labour code Ivory Coast employers apply, try our free payroll simulators or book a demo.
Frequently asked questions
Which labour code Ivory Coast text is in force in 2026?
Law No. 2015-532 of 20 July 2015, amended in 2021 and supplemented by its decrees, eleven of which were adopted on 15 April 2026.
Where can I download the labour code Ivory Coast PDF?
The 2025 UVCI edition brings together the law, the decrees and the collective agreement, without the April 2026 decrees. Only the Official Gazette is authoritative.
How long can a fixed-term contract last?
Two years at most, including renewals, with no limit on the number of renewals within that cap (article 15.4).
How long is the probation period?
From 8 days to 3 months depending on the category, renewable once, always in writing (Decree No. 96-195).
What are the legal working hours under the labour code Ivory Coast?
40 hours a week, 2,400 hours a year in agriculture, with at most 15 overtime hours a week and 75 a year.
How many days of leave a year does the labour code Ivory Coast grant?
2.2 working days per month, or 26.4 days for a full year, plus seniority days from 5 years.
What notice applies to resignation or dismissal?
From 8 days to 4 months depending on category, pay basis and seniority (Decree No. 2026-198), unless an agreement or contract is more favourable.
What should I do in a dispute with my employer?
First ask the labour inspector for an amicable settlement (article 81.2), then go to the labour court if it fails (article 81.7).
Key takeaways
- The labour code Ivory Coast employers apply is Law No. 2015-532 of 20 July 2015, amended in 2021.
- Durations and amounts (probation, notice, severance, overtime, SMIG) are in the decrees, several of which were replaced in April 2026.
- Key checkpoints: written contracts, approval for foreign staff, working hours, leave, notice, delegates, filings.
Updated 10 November 2026.
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