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Investment & Legal Framework
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
REGULATIONS
KEY LABOUR PROVISIONS
Imports
Exports
The government of Sudan developed import liberaliza
tion, thus, import policy is becoming less restrictive.
Licenses are required for all imports, form the Minis-
try of Foreign Trade pursuant to The Registration of
Importers and Exporters Act.
All Exports must be through a Letter of Credit from a
local bank pursuant to the Regulations of the Bank
of Sudan, the local bank advices whether the imports
needs to be approved by the Sudanese Standards
and Metrology Authority or not.
Certain items such as food items, beverages, live
animals, and animal products are classified as re-
stricted. To import restricted goods, it is necessary
to obtain a letter of Approval from the relevant gov-
ernment offices plus a fulfillment of the standards of
the Sudanese Standards and Metrology Authority.
Some goods such as opium, narcotic drugs, alcohol,
indecent or obscene materials, false and counterfeit
coins and money, and others, are prohibited for im-
portation by law. Apart from those items, there is no
import ban or quantitative import restriction.
Clearance:
In order to clear imports the following documents
needs to be submitted:
• Bill of landing or Airway Bill
• Certificate of origin
• Analysis Certificate from an accredited analysis
Firm
• Certificate of Compliance from the Sudanese
Standards and Metrology Authority
Licenses must be obtained for exports from the Min-
istry of Foreign Trade pursuant to The Registration
of Importers and Exporters Act. All Exports must be
through a local bank pursuant to the Regulations of
the Bank of Sudan. Some exports are monopolized
by local companies, by virtue of a local legislation,
such as Gum Arabic and livestock.
The government has taken a number of measures,
including the introduction of the exchange rate ad-
justment and the duty drawback system, and the
elimination of both export tax and subsidies.
Employment of expatriates is permitted without
any restriction for key management posts. It is also
possible for expatriates to be employed in non-
management positions in areas where Sudanese
nationals are not available, provided that permission
is secured from the Labour Office in the relevant State.
Working conditions
The labour law is the principal legislation governing
working conditions. It prescribes minimum standards
for working conditions and covers employment
contracts, wages, working hours, health and safety,
accident compensation and arbitrary dismissals.
Wages and benefits
Wages must be paid regularly and in full at least
once a month on a fixed day or days. There is a
minimum wage legislation in Sudan and it is subject
to revision every year. Minimum wage now stands at
SDG 250 (US$ 100) per month, currently acceptable
as minimum rate to be paid for unskilled workers.
Sudanese labour costs are lower than the region
average. Wages vary among enterprises, fresh
graduate salaries range from SDG 500 to SDG 750
per month, depending on the level of education.
Salary ranges for executives and professionals vary
widely depending on industry, company, seniority
and position.
Termination of Employment
Companies may dismiss employees for justifiable
reasons. If terminated for any reason, workers who
November 2000. Another 2 years elapsed before
answers to a second set were submitted, in January
2003, followed in April by additional documentation
on agriculture, services, TBT/SPS, and TRIPS. As
all the awaited inputs have now been received, The
Working Party on the accession of Sudan was estab-
lished on 25
th
October 1994. Sudan’s memorandum
on the Foreign Trade Regime was circulated in Janu-
ary 1999. The second meeting of the Working Party
was held in March 2004. Bilateral market access
negotiations are underway on the basis of revised
offers on goods and services.