On 18 and 19 February 2025, new statutes were approved in the context of the reform of Angola's labor and employment legislation that began with the approval of the new General Labor Law at the end of 2023 through Law No. 12/23, of 27 December 2023. The laws in question are:
New Legal Regime for Non-Resident Foreign Employees
The new Presidential Decree No. 49/25, of 18 February 2025, was gazetted approving the new legal regime for the exercise of professional activity by non-resident foreign employees (“expatriates”). This law completely revoked the previous regime approved by previous Presidential Decrees no. 43/17, of 6 March 2017 and 79/17, of 24 April 2017. Among the main innovations approved by this law are the new rules on the duration of employment contracts for expatriate employees, as well as new procedures for the registration of employment contracts with the Employment Centres, with it being clarified that employment contracts with expatriate employees holding a temporary stay visa must also be registered. The statute clarifies that the concept of “national workforce” includes resident foreigners, which was a very relevant doubt that still existed under the previous regime. This Presidential Decree came into force on the day of its gazetting.
New Regime for Labor Administrative Offenses
The new Presidential Decree No. 50/25, of 19 February 2025 was approved, defining and classifying the administrative offenses for violating the rules of the General Labor Law approved by Law No. 12/23, of 27 December 2023 and Presidential Decree no. 152/24, of 17 July 2024. The statute now defines the different types of offenses as minor, serious and very serious misdemeanors, makes a general increase in applicable fines, and clarifies the additional penalties that offenders may be subject to. This law also establishes the entire administrative procedure for applying fines. The new regime is complemented by the General Regime of Administrative Offenses previously approved by Law no. 19/22, of 7 July 2022. Presidential Decree No. 50/25 came into force on the day of its gazetting.
New Legal Regime for Temporary Work Contracts and the Activity of Assigning Temporary Workers
Presidential Decree No. 51/25, of February 19, was also approved, which regulates the rules of the General Labor Law on temporary work and the activity of assigning these employees by manpower agencies. The new regime establishes that it is only possible to conclude temporary work contracts and assign this type of employee under the same conditions, reasons and maximum terms (including renewals) provided for in the General Labor Law for fixed-term employees. The statute also regulates the licensing procedures for manpower agencies. The contracts for the assignment of employees concluded under the previous regime approved by Presidential Decree No. 31/17, of 22 February 2017, remain in force until their expiry date, but any renewal must be carried out under the new regime. This Presidential Decree also came into force immediately.
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