Working in Chad: the ONAPE agency, minimum wage and procedures

Agriculture and oil, the pillars of Chad's economy

The AfDB identifies agriculture and oil as the main drivers of activity. The ILO places Chad among the countries where agriculture provides between 60 and 85% of jobs, which leaves limited room for salaried posts.

Chadian growth after the 2024 floods

Growth reaches 5.0% in 2024, then 3.4% in 2025 thanks to the agricultural recovery following the floods, and 3.6% is forecast for 2026. These figures do not show the level of unemployment, which the AfDB does not publish.

Poverty and the search for a stable income

Extreme poverty rises from 31.2% in 2018 to 35.4% in 2023, and overall poverty reaches 42.3%. In this context, many people combine farming, small-scale trading and occasional work to secure an income.

Chad's minimum wage set by decree in 2011

Decree No. 11-055 of 21 January 2011 sets the minimum wage at 355 CFA francs an hour. A monthly paid employee must receive at least 169 times this rate. A second decree from October 2011, not verified, may have changed this amount.

Reference working hours in Chad

The same decree uses 39 hours of work per week as the basis for calculation. Overtime, bonuses and seniority pay depend on the contract and collective agreements, so ask for a sample payslip before you are hired.

ONAPE, the public employment service

The Office National pour la Promotion de l'Emploi replaced ONAMO by decree on 10 September 1992. It then reported to the Ministry of the Civil Service and Labour and remains, according to that text, the only service authorised to place workers.

Employment authorisations for foreign nationals

Under this decree, ONAPE issues employment authorisations for foreign workers together with the immigration services, as well as the recruitment visa provided for by law. This regime dates from 1992, so check its current version before taking any steps.

Contracts and work cards

ONAPE also checks that contracts comply with the rules and keeps work cards. Candidates should therefore make sure their contract has followed this route, particularly when they are recruited from abroad by a subcontractor.

Oil and related services

Oil, cited by the AfDB among the key sectors, employs technicians, mechanics, HSE officers and logistics staff, sometimes through subcontractors. Our page on mining and oil jobs describes these roles and the safety certifications expected.

Farming careers and rural development

Agronomists, livestock technicians and rural project managers find assignments in public programmes and those run by donors. Our feature on agricultural employment in Africa details these fields and the skills recruiters look for.

Recruitment firms and platforms for managers

AfricaWork advertises recruitment and executive search activity in Chad. Humanitarian and development posts can be found on ReliefWeb, Impactpool or NGO Jobs in Africa. No job board specific to Chad has been verified.

Opportunities in Cameroon and Niger

Candidates willing to move compare with employment in Cameroon, a neighbouring CEMAC member, or with the Nigerien job market, which shares many Sahelian challenges. Compare salaries, the cost of living and formalities.

Organisations and websites for employment in Chad

• ONAPE: Office National pour la Promotion de l'Emploi: placement, contracts, work cards and authorisations for foreign workers.
• Ministère chargé de la Fonction publique et du Travail: Supervising ministry of ONAPE under the 1992 decree; its current title has not been verified.
• Décret SMIG n° 11-055: 2011 text setting the hourly minimum wage and the reference working hours.
• AfricaWork Tchad: Recruitment and executive search firm active in the Chadian market.
• NGO Jobs in Africa: Job board reserved for NGOs, with full-time, fixed-term and consultancy posts.

How to organise your job search in Chad

1. Register with ONAPE, the only placement service recognised by the 1992 decree.
2. Target oil companies, their subcontractors and donor-funded agricultural programmes.
3. Prepare a CV in French and an English version for international companies and NGOs.
4. Convert the salary offered into an hourly rate to compare it with the reference hourly SMIG.
5. If you are a foreign national, have the employer confirm the employment authorisation issued by ONAPE.
6. Keep a copy of your approved contract and your work card.

Reference data on work in Chad

Paperwork to prepare for a job in Chad

• CV and cover letter
• Certified degrees
• Criminal record extract
• Identity document or passport
• Employment contract submitted for ONAPE review
• For foreign nationals: employment authorisation and recruitment visa

Common pitfalls in Chad

• Paying a middleman to obtain a job in oil: placement is ONAPE's responsibility and hiring is never paid for.
• Starting an assignment on an ordinary visa without an employment authorisation or recruitment visa.
• Relying on an old SMIG amount without checking whether a more recent text has changed it.
• Signing a contract that has not been checked by ONAPE, which makes it harder to seek redress in a dispute.

Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueJob.com does not recruit and never asks for money: beware of offers that demand fees.