Employment contracts can be terminated by either party by giving a month's notice or payment in lieu of notice to the other party in Solomon Islands. Notice of termination must be given in writing. All wages due to the employee are paid to them on the day on which the contract is terminated.
All non-citizens of Solomon Islands other than government employees, diplomatic staff, Commonwealth government employees, and children under 18 years are required by law to apply for a work permit in Solomon Islands. An application is made to the Commissioner of Labour. The permit can be issued for a maximum of 2 years. It can be renewed, and the application fee depends on the duration of the permit.
Applicants must apply for a work permit before entering Solomon Islands. Applications can be submitted by either the employee or the employer. The application form must clearly demonstrate that there are no Solomon Islanders who can do the job, and the proposed immigrant employee is properly qualified for the job and has the required experience. A separate application for an entry and residence permit must be submitted to the Director of Immigration. Once the work permit has been issued, applicants must apply for the Long-Term Employment Visa, which allows foreign nationals with a valid Solomon Islands work permit to reside and work in the country.
All employees in Solomon Islands are entitled to an annual leave of at least 1.25 working days for each complete calendar month of employment in an undertaking. They are paid at their normal wage rates for the duration of their leave.
Employees are also entitled to be paid the cost of return journeys between their place of employment and their home for themselves, their spouses, and a maximum of 4 dependent children under the age of 18 years. This cost is paid once a year. Employers decide the route and method of travel. Employees traveling to their homes while taking an annual leave are given additional days of leave to compensate for the days spent traveling.
The normal working hours of employees must not exceed 45 hours a week in Solomon Islands. Employment contracts can agree on a lower maximum number of hours. Hours of work must be arranged to only require an employee's presence at the place of work for 12 hours daily. Employees must be given a weekly rest of 24 continuous hours and must not work for more than 6 days a week. Employers shall notify employees, by posting notices in conspicuous places in the work premises or other appropriate places or by such other method as may be approved, of the hours at which work begins and ends, including shift work, the rest intervals during the period of work which are not reckoned as part of the working hours, and the weekly rest period to be accorded to employees.
All female employees, other than casual employees, are entitled to paid maternity leave of 12 weeks. At least 6 weeks' leave must be taken after delivery. The remainder of the period of maternity leave is not compulsory but can be provided before the presumed date of delivery or following the expiration of the compulsory leave period. Maternity leave can be further extended if required due to a medical complication after submitting a certificate from a medical practitioner. This additional leave is deducted from the employee's annual or sick leave entitlement.
Employees are paid at least 25% of their normal wage rate for 12 weeks and at the full rate for any annual or sick leave availed by them. They are also entitled to medical benefits, including prenatal, delivery, and post-natal care and hospitalization where necessary, as may be provided by government or private medical services.
Employees cannot be dismissed while they are on maternity leave. Employees who don't return to work after the expiry of their leave are regarded as having abandoned their employment without due notice and shall be required to pay their employers an amount equivalent to the wages payable during the period of notice.
The Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour & Immigration in Solomon Islands determines minimum wage in an order after consultation with representatives of employers and employees. If an employer fails to pay at least the minimum wage of their employees, they shall be liable on conviction in respect of each offense to a fine of SBD 500 (Solomon Islands Dollar) and SBD 20 for each day on which the offense is continued after conviction therefor. The hourly minimum wage was last set in 2019 to SBD 8. The minimum wage for the agriculture and fishing sectors is SBD 7.2 per hour.
No specific legislation mandates pay frequency in the Solomon Islands. The most common is fortnightly or monthly. Employers must provide payslips that detail gross wages, deductions, and net wages.
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