Global coverage
Available in +150 countries
Employer costs, taxes, minimum wage and leave rules for hiring here, plus the faster route: hire a contractor with Ontop, no local entity needed.
2026
Currency
USD $ (US Dollar)
Employer contributions
8% employer INSS
Minimum wage
USD 115/month (2024)
Payment frequency
Monthly
Calendar year (Jan 1 - Dec 31)
Capital
Dili
Timezone
TLT (GMT+9)
Employee or contractor
If the work is project-based or you need to move fast, a contractor gets you the same talent with a fraction of the paperwork.
Employee
~USD 864 total
/month
For a gross salary of
USD 800 gross/month
Setup
Local entity or employer of record, plus tax and social security registration
Employer contributions
8% employer INSS
Mandatory extras
Annual Bonus
Monthly admin
Monthly payroll - INSS by 15th - income tax - annual March return
Contractor with Ontop
No local entity
$49
/contractor/month
The agreed rate, plus Ontop from $49 per contractor per month.
Sign a contract, yours or an Ontop template. No local registration on your side.
No employer contributions: the contractor handles their own taxes and social security.
One payment per invoice, in one payroll run.
Paid into their Ontop Global Account in USD.
See the full side-by-side comparison
+
A contractor's rate usually covers their own taxes, so compare total cost, not just gross pay. Run your numbers in the contractor vs employee calculator.
Hiring here: the full breakdown
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Payroll guide
Employer costs come on top of gross pay. Use these figures to budget a hire and to compare it with a contractor rate.
Total monthly cost
~USD 864 total
Example gross salary
USD 800 gross/month
~USD 683 net
Net pay to the employee
Tax and employee contributions
Withheld from gross pay
~USD 64 INSS
Employer contributions on that salary
Employer contributions
8% employer INSS
Employee contributions
4% employee INSS + income tax (IRS)
Total cost above gross
~10% above gross
Figures are estimates for planning. Rates change with each budget and can vary by sector, so confirm them before you make an offer.
What people earn here, from the legal floor to the main cities, plus the extra pay most employers budget for.
National average
~USD 400
Per month
Dili
USD 500 - 1,500
~40%
Baucau
USD 350 - 900
~10%
Monthly gross. National average salary per year:
~USD 4,800
Minimum wage
USD 115/month (2024)
Paid:
Monthly
Extra pay
Annual Bonus
Discretionary
December
Collective agreements can set sector minimums above the national one. Check whether one applies to the role before you set the salary. Next step: estimate the full cost of an employee.
Who collects what, how often, and what happens when a payment is late.
Income tax brackets
0% up to USD 500/month / 10% over
Tax year:
Calendar year (Jan 1 - Dec 31)
Filing calendar
Monthly by 15th
Social security payments
March 31 (annual declaration)
Income tax
On request
Employee tax certificate
Salary Certificate
March 31
Annual return
Annual IRS Declaration
Late payment penalties
Late INSS: 10% penalty; late IRS: 10% penalty
Who collects what
Autoridade Tributaria (AT)
Income tax
INSS
Social security
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment / Labour
Labor law
The time off and paid leave every employee is entitled to by law. Budget for it when you compare an employee with a contractor.
Annual leave
Annual Leave
12 days/year
Public holidays
~13 public holidays
Sick leave
Sick Leave
Employer covers per Labour Code
Maternity leave
12 weeks (84 days) maternity
Full pay from employer
The contracts you can use, and what ending an employment relationship costs.
Permanent
Contrato de Trabalho Permanente
Fixed term
Contrato de Trabalho a Termo Certo
Independent contractor
Contrato de Prestacao de Servicos
Collective agreements
No general CBA
Ending employment
End-of-Service Payment
How it is calculated
Per Labour Code based on tenure
Calling someone a contractor does not make them one. If the role works like employment in practice, local authorities can reclassify it, with back contributions and penalties.
The errors that most often trigger back payments and penalties here, and what to do instead.
Limited Enforcement Capacity
Risk Level: HIGH
Timor-Leste's labour administration has limited enforcement capacity. However, international employers operating in the oil and gas sector face rigorous compliance monitoring.
INSS System Development
Risk Level: MEDIUM
The INSS system is still developing its administrative capacity. Contribution records may have gaps.
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Next topicOntop is the Global Workforce Engine for contractor teams: contracts, compliance documents and payments in 150+ countries.
150+
countries
$49
per contractor per month
1 run
to pay your whole team
USD
Global Account for every contractor
FAQ
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Ontop works with contractors, not employees. As Contractor of Record, Ontop handles contracts, compliance documents and payments for contractors in 150+ countries. To employ someone, you need a local entity or an employer of record. Ontop doesn't act as your employer of record.
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Employers pay contributions on top of gross salary. The cost table on this page shows the rates that apply here and a worked monthly example. A contractor with Ontop costs the agreed rate plus Ontop from $49 per contractor per month.
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Many countries require an extra month or an annual bonus for employees. The salaries section on this page shows the one that applies here and when it is usually paid. Contractors are paid what you agree in the contract.
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Employers withhold income tax and the employee's social security share every pay run, then pay them to the local authorities. The taxes section on this page lists the brackets, rates and filing deadlines that apply here.
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Yes. The contractor vs employee calculator compares the full cost of an employee, employer contributions included, with a contractor rate plus Ontop's monthly fee.
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When the work is project-based, you need to start fast or you don't have a local entity. If the person will work fixed hours, under your direction and only for you, local law may treat them as an employee, so hire them as one.
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Misclassifying employees as contractors, missing tax and social security deadlines, and ignoring collective agreements that set higher wage floors. The mistakes section on this page covers the ones that come up most often here.
Compare employer costs, taxes and contractor rules in nearby countries:
Ready to hire? See Ontop pricing or learn how to build a global team without an employer of record.
Ready to hire? See Ontop pricing or learn how to build a global team without an employer of record.