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Investment & Legal Framework
The National Management of the Customs of the
Ministry Finance, within the framework of a vast pro-
gramme of modernization of the customs (presented
in 2002), implemented the use of a new document of
importation, named “Documento Único” (DU). This
single document, is held and filled in 4 specimens,
exclusively by the “Despachante” (official agent from
the Angolan customs), simplifying all the formali-
ties to which the importer was confronted until now:
multitude of forms to fill inducing slowness, admin-
istrative annoyances and corruption. This document
is now used for all types of trade such as: imports,
exports, re-importation, temporary importation, inter-
nal transit, etc.
Angola, a member of the SADC, is the first country
of this African organization to introduce and apply
this new formula and to accept the principles and
the rules that other regional entities already used
(Mercosur, EU, World organization of the Customs),
following several studies and agreements with the
Commercial Ministers of the southern area.
The DU, of which the basic format, the characteris-
tics and the standards were imposed by the SADC
(but adapted to Angola), enables an international use
for clearance of goods. The information to be seized
in its 53 codified fields, obeys the uniform codes of
the World Organization of the Customs. The defini-
tion of the DU required the consultation of various
organizations: the Ministry of Finance, the National
Bank of Angola, Ministry of Trade & Industry, Plan,
Transport, the Police force of the Borders and the
National Institute of Statistics, as well as the World
Organization of the Trade and the World Organiza-
tion of the Customs.
The introduction of the “Double Channel” (at the air-
port), a declaration to be filled for taxable and non-
taxable goods have also helped monitoring the cus-
toms process. It is thus the end of “Tolerance Zero”,
which implied the physical checking of any goods.
From now on, a system of luggage risk analysis will
be carried out, making well the distinction between
registered luggage, unattended luggage and taxable
luggage (the fine being able to go up to 4 times the
value of the goods). This information, inserted in a
database, can as well be obtained inside the country.
Labor Provisions
Angola has an extensive regulation on labor, the
Labor Law do provides specific regulation for the
CUSTOMS DUTIES
ACCESS TO LAND
employment of Angolan citizens and for residents
foreign citizens. In addition there is also regulation
for the employment of foreign non resident’s citi-
zens.
The two most-used employment contract types in
Angola are temporary and permanent contracts.
Temporary employment contract
This contract is always substantiated in writing;
otherwise it might be considered as a permanent
contract. Temporary contracts can only be entered
into for specific listed motives e.g. replacement of
a temporary absence of an employee, occasional
functions, execution of specific duties, starting a new
company or sector.
An entity starting activities can employee staff for
a (single or aggregate) period of up to 36 months.
Contracts are automatically renewed if one party
does not communicate the intention to terminate it
within a specified timeframe. The renewal of tempo-
rary contracts for a different period can only be made
in writing.
Where employment continues after the termination
date (36 months in the case of a company starting
activities) and no previous notice is given by the
employer (15, 30 and 60 days for contracts with a
duration of one year, one to three years, and more
than 3 years, respectively), the temporary contract is
automatically converted into a permanent one.
Normally, temporary employment contracts are sup-
posed to terminate at the date indicated in the con-
tract or at the moment the conditions on which the
contract was based are met.
The termination of that type of contract, by the em-
ployer, before the date established in the contract
and without any fair reason, obliges the employer to
compensate the employee with the salaries due up
to the termination date stated in the contract.
Permanent employment contract
This type of contract is not subject to the obligation
of written format and does not have a duration limit.
The Angolan regime do provides regulations regard-
ing the property and access to the land. As funda-
mental principal the land is a property of the state