A compliant independent contractor agreement for hiring in Burkina Faso

Answering all your questions about independent contractor agreements in Burkina Faso

You may have questions. We’re here to answer them. Below, you’ll learn all the extra stuff you should probably know before putting together an independent contractor agreement for Burkina Faso.

Why do I need an independent contractor agreement in Burkina Faso?

The prospect of getting started immediately can be exciting, but you’ll want to secure a written agreement before any work begins. Without a written contract, important details like the work that needs to be done, pay, and deadlines can get confused—with no legal foundation. Taking time in the beginning to write and sign an agreement can save you a lot of conflict in the future. 

If you’re hiring an independent contractor for a specific period of time, Burkina Faso requires a written contract that does not exceed three years. Even if you are hiring on a more open-term basis, though, it’s best to have a written independent contractor agreement anyway. A written agreement protects both your interests and the rights of a contractor in the event that there is a legal dispute between you. They are a clear way for a judge to rule in favor of whichever side is consistent with the terms you agreed to and signed on in the contract. This can save you both the hassle of a lengthy legal dispute if a conflict arises during your partnership. 

So should you take the time to secure a written independent contractor agreement? Definitely. For the protection of your company, and the preservation of the contractor’s rights. 

What do contractor agreements in Burkina Faso typically need to have?

Every contractor agreement in Burkina Faso (and, the rest of the world) can be broken up into two parts:

• Contract-specific variables: This includes things like scope of work, rate, and deadline. They’re the project-specific variables that you’ll include with each contract, and are totally dependent on what type of work you’re hiring a contractor to do.

• Everything else: Besides things like scope and deadline, every independent contractor agreement in Burkina Faso should follow a similar structure. If you want to grab your own contract with a compliant structure for Burkina Faso, sign up to Thera

What makes contractors different from employees in Burkina Faso?

Hiring independent contractors typically requires less time, money, and paperwork for your company. There are some additional differences between contractors and employees, though. While employees usually work exclusively for one company, independent contractors maintain a legally self-employed status. This status gives them additional rights over their working process compared to employees. 

Here are a few of the key things that make contractors different from employees in Burkina Faso:

• Contractors can set their own schedules
• Contractors can work with their own software and tools 
• Contractors can work for other clients 
• Contractors rarely receive benefits, like health insurance*

Contractors are often drawn to working independently because it gives them more autonomy than being an employee. They have control over the method by which they complete their work, and can pursue additional work as they wish. This is a win for the hiring company too, because they can easily find talent that is passionate about the work they need done. If this is right for your company, we can help you get the ball rolling with a compliant contract. 

*With Thera, you can get your contractors access to sign up for premium global health insurance, from SafetyWing, at a 50% discount.

Click here to learn more about hiring your team in Burkina Faso.