IMPACT – HIGH

Djibouti has suspended commercial flights and implemented a number of other measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Key Points:

  • A travel ban is in place, and commercial flights have been suspended at Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport.
  • A nationwide lockdown has been implemented. Only private companies conducting essential business related to food and fuel, and so forth are operating. Government offices are closed except for ones providing services for water, electricity and telecommunications.
  • Applications for permits and passes are also not being processed at this time.

Analysis & Comments: The travel ban, commercial flight suspension, government office closures and other measures will impact the movement of people into Djibouti. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication.

IMPACT – HIGH

Mauritius has implemented a number of measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Key points:

  • A complete travel ban is in place until May 15. Access to the airport departure area is restricted to departing passengers with valid plane tickets.
  • Only essential government services are available because of a country-wide lockdown, which will be in effect until May 4.
  • Both new applications and renewal applications for occupation/work permit applications will be delayed during the lockdown.
  • Individuals suspected of being infected with COVID-19 will be entered in a quarantine facility for 14 days and will be tested. The same is true for those who have been in contact with an infected person. Individuals in quarantine for such reasons who test positively for COVID-19 are subject to longer quarantine periods.

Analysis & Comments: The new travel restriction and residency permit processing disruption will impact the movement of people into Mauritius. Significant delays may occur for consular and in-country processing. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2020. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

IMPACT – HIGH

The Cameroon government has announced travel restrictions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Key points:

  • All borders are closed to travel from air, land and sea.
  • Cameroonians who are abroad may return to Cameroon, but first they must visit a Cameroonian embassy in the foreign country where they are staying.
  • Recent travelers to Cameroon have been placed in 14-day quarantines at designated hotels in Yaounde and Douala.
  • Visas to Cameroon are no longer being issued, but work permits and residence permits can still be obtained.
  • Government offices remain open at this time but access to them is limited.
  • The new travel restrictions will impact the movement of people into Cameroon. Employers should account for affected travelers and rearrange travel schedules accordingly. Delays may occur for consular and in-country processing. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2020. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the compliance reminder? Ghana’s Petroleum Commission is requesting that all companies in the oil and gas sector submit a succession, employment and training plan by Thursday, Feb. 28, as part of their 2019 local content documentation requirements.

  • What does it mean? Companies should submit the required forms for employment, succession and training, as well as other relevant forms, if they have not already done so.
  • Implementation time frame: Between now and Feb. 28.
  • Who is affected: Oil and gas sector companies and employees.
  • Business impact: Employers who fail to submit their employment, succession and training plan and other relevant forms by Feb. 28 are liable for monetary fines until they comply with the requirement.
  • Next steps: The succession form requires such information as localization periods, foreign workers’ job descriptions and the names of local employees who take over job roles. The training plan requires a description of the budget, the identified skills and competence gaps to be filled and training sessions for local employees needing to match their skills with those of foreign nationals for job handovers. The recruitment and employment plan outlines the organization’s recruitment plans. Another form that provides an assessment of the progress of the training plan must also be submitted at the end of each calendar quarter. Employers may obtain these forms from their immigration providers.

Background: Ghanaian authorities continue to focus on protecting and developing the local workforce through rules that encourage companies to hire and train Ghanaians and adopt succession plans to transfer skills to local workers. Succession plans, which are documents outlining how the skills and duties performed by foreign employees will be transferred to local employees, have become prevalent in sub-Saharan African countries. They are used by employers alongside a training plan that gives local employees hands-on experience during the period when foreign nationals are performing the work.

Analysis & Comments: Employers should submit the forms by the end of the month to avoid noncompliance and monetary penalties.

Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.