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Algeria Payroll & Employment Guide 2026
Regional Note: Algeria is Africa's largest country by area and a major hydrocarbon exporter. French is the operative language for payroll, contracts, and regulatory filings despite Arabic being the constitutional official language. Two critical constraints for international employers: (1) Currency controls by Bank of Algeria restrict DZD conversion and expatriate salary repatriation. (2) All employees — Algerian and foreign: contribute to CNAS and pay IRG at the same rates (no expat exemption).
At a glance
Four key payroll indicators for Algeria
40hMAXIMUM WORKING WEEK
DZD 24,0002026 MONTHLY MINIMUM WAGE
150dPAID MATERNITY LEAVE
35%COMBINED SOCIAL INSURANCE · VERIFY
What is inside
10 chapters, 13 pages
The opening summary of every chapter is below. Download the PDF for the full text, tables and rates.
Company Setup & Business Environment
Algeria is Africa's largest country by area and a major hydrocarbon exporter.
Working Hours & Leave
Maximum: 40 hours/week (private sector standard); some sectors up to 44 hours.
CNAS Social Insurance: 2026
Algeria uses a fragmented three-body social security system: CNAS (health/maternity/accidents), CNR
Income Tax: IRG (Impôt sur le Revenu Global)
(retirement), and CNAC (unemployment). 40% abatement (abattement forfaitaire): Applied to net salary (after CNAS deduction) before bracket calculation.
Minimum Wage (SNMG)
2026 Change: Finance Law 2026 raised the SNMG by +20% from DZD 20,000 to DZD 24,000/month effective 1 January 2026.
Gross-to-Net Illustration (DZD 80,000/month)
Note: The 40% abatement is unique to Algeria's IRG and significantly reduces effective tax burden compared to
Severance & Termination
headline brackets. Note: Minimum 2 years of continuous service required to qualify for statutory severance.
Work Permits & Visas for Foreign Employees
VERIFY: Algeria's work permit process is not well- documented in English.
Compliance Calendar
Compliance Calendar
Practical Notes & Key Risks
SNMG +20% from January 2026: DZD 24,000 is a significant jump from DZD 20,000.
This guide is general information, not legal advice or a complete statement of the law. It reflects the legislation in force when it was prepared, and legislation changes. Always seek country-specific professional advice for a specific situation.
With Datassist
Running payroll and employment operations in Algeria
Employing people in Algeria means applying the rules in this guide again every pay cycle: tracking rates, filing social security, running compliant wage payment channels and calculating end-of-service entitlements. Datassist teams exist so you can manage that from a single point.
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Need to run payroll and employment operations in Algeria?
Talk to a Datassist specialist and plan your local compliance, social security and wage payment processes together.