Home » Cost of Non-Compliance: A PEO can mitigate the damage
Africa. A continent of possibility and opportunity. However, despite being the second-largest continent, African markets have not kept pace with the economic development and growth seen throughout the world. Perhaps this is because African markets are easy for investors and organisations to overlook, with potential strategies for investment and expansion being halted due to language barriers, poor infrastructure and ‘red tape’ administrative barriers. However, organisations that do recognise the potential for growth within the 54 distinct African regions may be front-runners in innovating products to meet African countries’ demand for goods, services and new infrastructure.
One of the major obstacles to a successful expansion into Africa is the differing compliance and governance structures within the different African countries. Not only are these laws and legislations intricate, but they carry hefty consequences should organisations not comply with them. Thus, it is crucial for organisations to establish a compliance strategy prior to onboarding employees in Africa. However, this can be overwhelming, given the numerous considerations, and ever-shifting regulatory landscape.
A crucial component in taking the leap and expanding into Africa is the right partner to overcome these barriers to entry.
Compliance is often synonymous with the investment of time and considerable capital by organisations. Indeed, the term ‘compliance cost’ for international companies describes the total cost an organisation incurs in complying with a country’s legislation. Organisations operating in multiple, international jurisdictions must deal with a broader range of regulations, incurring considerable costs, which can cause many barriers to entry.
Given the costs of operating an international organisation, it may be tempting to ‘skip a few steps’ in practice. However, the cost of non-compliance is on the rise, and it is estimated that the cost of non-compliance is more than twice the cost of compliance.
Here are some consequences of not getting compliance right in African countries.
Area of impact | Detail | Long-term implication |
Financial losses | Expansion into Africa is expensive, and there are often unforeseen costs to incorporate into the budget. | Any tax or legal transgression an organisation commits renders organisation vulnerable to significant financial threats through penalties, fines, and even civil lawsuits, which may threaten the financial viability of a new venture. |
Negative employee experience | Labour and tax legislation exists to ensure a positive employment experience and to protect both organisations and employees from malpractice. | Non-compliance may have implications for an organisation’s employees, who bear the brunt of incorrect payment, unfair labour practices or incorrect employer contributions. This may lead to lower employee productivity and job satisfaction. |
Risk of employee malpractice | It is the responsibility of department heads and executives to establish compliant procedures and processes, however, it is the responsibility of the employees to align with the required behaviours. | Employees need to receive training on how to remain compliant in their everyday roles. Without such upskilling, employees may unknowingly commit infringements that threaten the organisation. |
Loss of stakeholder trust and reputation damage | In an increasingly consumerist world, it is important to build a sense of trust with key stakeholders, such as customers, investors, and employees. Such a relationship is dependent on perceptions of a company in the market, as well as stakeholder experience with the organisation. | Should an organisation commit an ethical transgression, this may lead to stakeholders feeling a sense of loss of trust in the company. A lack of trust can damage a country’s reputation. Stakeholders who have doubts about the company’s strategies and practices are unlikely to remain in support of the company, which may damage their market viability and support. |
In short, leaving compliance issues unaddressed may cost the company more than it would have spent to prevent them. Understanding the complexity of international payroll compliance should not be underestimated, particularly when expanding into different African countries.
Remember the adage – prevention is better than cure. Instead of spending valuable time and money retrospectively fixing compliance-related mishaps, organisations can minimise any compliance-related risks by setting up a compliant system. However, this is no easy task and requires the support and advice of experts, particularly if expanding on the African continent.
Africa HR Solutions, is a well-established and trusted advisor to many organisations that have expanded to Africa. We pride ourselves as experts in onboarding and managing payrolls for employees in 44 different African countries. In partnering with Africa HR Solutions, there is no need for organisations to be overwhelmed by the nuances in legislation and subsequent penalties for non-compliance. Rather, as a leading provider of PEO services in Africa, Africa HR Solutions can provide the right services, tools, and expertise needed to ensure operations adhere to compliance on the continent. Our team of legal and payroll consultants and our local experts ensure our clients’ compliance systems are aligned to the best ethical business practices and relevant African legislation.
Are you curious about the ways we can assist in preventing damage to your company during your expansion in Africa? Then contact us and get a quote now!
Grant Geraghty is the longest-serving member of the Africa HR team. This resident subject matter expert and client champion is responsible for gaining a deep understanding of our clients’ unique HR needs in Africa and providing tailored solutions that align with their business objectives. Grant collabourates closely with our clients to ensure that their requirements are properly implemented, providing ongoing support and guidance throughout the process.
Grant brings a wealth of experience to his role, having served as Africa HR’s longest-serving employee. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with a major in Economics and Business Finance, from the University of Natal in South Africa. Additionally, he has completed a certification program in Payroll and Tax Administration from the University of Cape Town, further enhancing his expertise in HR operations and compliance.
His commitment to delivering exceptional service and his extensive knowledge of HR in Africa make him an invaluable member of the Africa HR team.
Kevina Takoordyal has a BA Hons Business Management from the University of Glamorgan, UK, with MBA in leadership and Innovation, MBA General, PMP Certified, and Agile Scrum Master. She currently works as the Head of Operations at Africa HR Solutions Ltd with more than 20 years of proven leadership capabilities in Operations, Business Development, People Management, Process Optimization, and Project Management in the Financial Services, BPO, Banking Industry, and Heath Care Industry. In Senior leadership roles with an international footprint across Europe working and extensive Pan- African experience from a compliance, finance, and operations angle, Kevina comes across with a panoply of cross-functional skills. Kevina also serves on a few Boards, Non-Independent Executive at MioD and for NGOs on a voluntary basis, a coach and mentor to aspiring female leaders across Africa and Mauritius.
Kevina is a firm believer in Servant Leadership with a strong focus and commitment to uplifting others, with the ability to deliver through a highly engaged – diverse team, and works towards consistently synergistic value creation. While being a focused and adaptive thinker and Kevina is actively participating in panel discussions on Innovation, CX, Digital transformation.
Kevina serves as Project Assessor for the National Youth upskilling program. She has been recognized as Global Talent in a few companies, Ceridian, and International SOS Ltd whereby she has been awarded a few scholarships and had the opportunity to be mentored by Senior Vice President in the US. Award Winner in various fields and at a national level and recognized including Super Achiever Leader Award in Africa in 2016, Awarded Africa Women Leader 2018.
Viloshna is an experienced finance professional with 18 years of expertise in strategic financial planning, financial analysis, cash flow management, systems and controls implementation, financial reporting, and continuous process improvements. She currently serves as Head of Finance & Business Support, where she has successfully automated and leveraged the financial reporting system capabilities to ensure efficient company operations.
Viloshna’s background includes senior roles in a multinational pharmaceutical company and a large listed Mauritian conglomerate. Her meticulous attention to detail and strategic thinking have streamlined financial processes, making her a valuable addition to any finance team. Viloshna is a qualified finance professional with an FCCA qualification and an MBA, bringing valuable expertise to any Organisation.
In her current role, Viloshna leads the company’s Treasury and Payments function, including the fulfillment of the company’s cross-border payments into Africa. With her strong educational background and extensive experience, Viloshna consistently demonstrates her ability to optimize financial operations, minimize risks, and improve profitability. Her expertise in financial reporting and process improvements make her a valuable asset to any Organisation.
A qualified lawyer who joined Africa HR Solutions in July 2020, Mark Du Preez has experience working in private practice for a reputable law firm in South Africa. He also played commercially focused roles at a leading private bank, wealth management company, and outsourcing firm in South Africa and Mauritius.
Mark has played a pivotal role in Africa HR Solution’s risk mitigation strategy, which positively impacted P&L performance over the years.
He currently leads the Partnerships function of the company including relationships and oversight with in-country partners (ICPs) across Africa.
Alex has more than 15 years of experience in the global, strategic development of both enterprise and consumer brands in categories including technology, transport, enterprise software, entertainment, and travel.
With experience in roles on both agency and corporate side, he has worked across international brands and has led the development and execution of multi-discipline campaigns across EMEA, NORAM and Asia Pacific.
His focus is on driving meaningful business impact through brand differentiation and building high-functioning, digitally oriented, and analytically driven capabilities. He is motivated by working with, and developing dynamic people, teams, and Organisations.
He leads, manages, develops and mentors the Key Account Management department, including line management responsibility for the team of Key Account Managers and Key Account Administrator who represent the Company as the primary communication link between all relevant stakeholders, including clients, third party in-country partners and internal functions.
Originally from Mauritius, he holds bachelor’s degrees in International Business, Finance and Management from the University of Nevada, Reno.
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