Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. The country contains abundant natural resources, including minerals, wildlife, forestry, freshwater, and arable land.

While English is the official language and major language of business and education in Zambia, the country has several major indigenous languages (all members of the Bantu family).

Zambia's yearly minimum wage is ZMW 917 per month, and a standard workweek is 40 hours at 8 hours per day. Overtime is regulated by the employment contract or collective agreements.

Parental Leave

Pregnant employees are entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave, of which at least 6 weeks need to be taken after the birth. Fathers are entitled to at least 5 days of paternity leave within 7 days of the birth of their child.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to paid sick leave, the length of which depends on whether the employment contract is long-term or short-term (between 52 days and 6 months). This leave is paid between 50%-100% of the regular salary, depending on the amount taken.

Paid Leave

Zambia has 20 national public holidays, and employees are entitled to 24 days of paid time off each year (accrued at 2 days per month).

Process

Employers may terminate an employment contract with just cause and sufficient notice. If the termination is due to misconduct, notice is not required.

Notice Period

The notice period varies based on the length of service at the company, and is between 1 day and 3 months.

Severance Pay

Severance payments are required in certain circumstances, such as the termination of a fixed-term contract or dismissals due to redundancy.

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