How to Calculate Severance Pay in Botswana

How to Calculate Severance Pay in Botswana

What is Severance Pay?

A severance package is pay and benefits that employees may be entitled to receive when they leave employment at a company unwillfully. 

How to Calculate Severance Pay in Botswana

Professional staff, like managers and executives, receive severance pay after 60 consecutive months of employment. This is calculated as a day of pay for each month served up to 60 months, and then two days for every further month.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is severance payout calculated?

How is severance pay calculated? The one week’s severance pay per completed year of continuous service is the minimum amount the employer must pay by law. This is based on the gross (before tax) remuneration of the employee.

Is severance pay compulsory in Botswana?

What is compulsory is payment of severance pay or gratuity at the end of the contract period, which is not normally less than the severance pay otherwise payable.

How do you calculate gratuity in Botswana?

The percentage parameters are still 25% of gross salary for the first contract, 27.5% for the second contract, and 30% for the third and subsequent contracts. Contracts normally run two to three years.

Is severance pay based on basic salary?

The basic severance pay allowance consists of- One week of pay at the rate of basic pay for the position held by the employee at the time of separation for each full year of creditable service through 10 years; Two weeks of pay at the rate of basic pay for the position held by the employee at the time of separation for ..

How much severance pay should I get?

Severance pay is offered to employees who retire, are laid off, or reach the end of the contractual agreements. One month’s salary must be paid to employees who have worked for a year or more. For mass termination in protected sectors, three months of wages must be offered to employees.

Is severance pay taxable in Botswana?

Two-thirds of severance pay or terminal gratuity is taxed. Pension contribution not more than 15% of remuneration is deductible.

Withholding Taxes and Final Tax Rates.

Type of IncomeResidentNon Resident
Value Added Tax12%12%
Capital Gains Corporate25%25%
Income Tax- Corporate22%25%

What is severance pay example?
For salaried employees:

If your salary is $100,000 per year, that is $4,000 for two weeks (given the cap is 25 weeks). If you have been at the company for 10 years, your severance pay would be $40,000 ($4,000 X 10 years). Remember severance pay is not always given; it is dependent on the scenario with your employer.

What is the formula to calculate leave?

The leave provision calculation formula: number of total annual salary package of the employee / number of working days x number of leave days accrued. (Refer to the sheet no. of working days for a calculation of number of working days available for the year, to be updated in the new year).

Does severance come as a lump sum?

There are two typical ways employees receive severance pay: (i) as a lump sum payment or (ii) as a salary continuance. While both have their benefits and drawbacks, in general, it is in most cases a good idea for employees to ask for a lump sum payment.

Do you pay tax on severance pay?

You’ll pay tax and National Insurance on the part of your termination payment equivalent to what you’d have earned if you were working. This may apply to: lump sum payments in lieu of notice ( PILON )

Is severance pay in addition to termination pay?

Though sometimes used interchangeably, termination pay and severance pay are not the same thing. While all employees of three months or longer with a company are entitled to termination pay (in place of notice) upon dismissal, not everyone is entitled to severance pay.