Employer of Record: the employment side
A safer route thanfreelance or entity setup.
Vertrou EOR becomes your legal employer in South Africa, so you can hire, pay and manage people locally without opening an entity of your own. This works whether you are a recruitment firm placing a candidate, or any other business hiring your first person in the country. We take on the contracts, payroll, tax and statutory compliance, and keep you covered as South African employment law changes, so the administrative weight sits with us, not you.
- No Entity Needed
- Payroll & Tax Handled
- Fast Onboarding
- Full HR Support
Why choose Vertrou EOR?
Everything an entity gives you, without the setup.
Faster Hiring
Onboard South African talent quickly with compliant contracts and payroll ready from day one.
One Partner
Recruitment and employment under one roof. Less back-and-forth, more momentum.
Compliance First
South African labour law, tax and statutory contributions, fully managed. If it changes, that's our problem, not yours.
Cost-Efficient
No entity registration, no local legal counsel on retainer, no compliance team to hire. One monthly fee instead.
What we do, and what's included
The legal employer, so you don't have to be.
One flat monthly fee per employee covers the full employment lifecycle. Low, flat one-time admin fees apply for onboarding and offboarding, from £25 per employee.
- Acting as the legal employer in South Africa
- Employment contracts, drafted and maintained
- Payroll management and monthly processing
- Tax and statutory contribution administration
- Leave, benefits and HR record keeping
- Onboarding and offboarding support
- Ongoing local HR support for you and your employee
- Labour law compliance as legislation changes
Why businesses use them
Hire in South Africa without the legal build-out.
- Hire South African talent without opening a local entity
- Faster hiring and onboarding
- Ensures local employment law compliance
- Reduces administrative and legal complexity
A third option
The full-scale solution, without the entity or the guesswork.
Setting up your own entity in South Africa is slow and expensive to maintain. Hiring freelancers avoids that complexity but sacrifices compliance and continuity.
Vertrou gives you a third option: dedicated, compliant, full-time talent, employed properly under South African law, without opening an entity of your own or relying on informal freelance arrangements.
Businesses that make the switch typically see substantial cost savings alongside faster hiring and lower risk.
Fee structure
Simple, flat and tailored to your team's needs.
Vertrou's EOR fee is a simple, flat monthly amount per employee, with flexible deposit options depending on your preference. Full pricing is tailored to your team and shared directly on a call with us.
Talk to VertrouSouth African employment law
Day-one employment protections, managed by us.
Probation periods
- Probation is allowed, usually 3 to 6 months
- Employees keep full labour protections during probation
- Termination during probation requires a documented process and feedback
Hiring & termination
- Termination must be procedurally and substantively fair
- Performance exits require evidence, warnings and an opportunity to improve
- Unfair dismissal claims are handled via the CCMA
HR & compliance
- Strong documentation and HR process significantly reduce risk
- Includes leave tracking, disciplinary processes and performance records
- Local HR knowledge is critical for compliance and risk management
Frequently asked questions
What is an Employer of Record (EOR) in South Africa?
An Employer of Record is the legal employer of your team member. Vertrou employs them in South Africa and takes on the employment contract, payroll, tax, statutory contributions, leave and HR administration, while you direct their day-to-day work.
Do I need to set up a South African company to hire there?
No. Because Vertrou is the legal employer, there is no local entity to register, no local legal counsel to retain and no compliance team to build.
How long does it take to onboard someone through Vertrou EOR?
Typically 7 to 14 days from contract to payroll, compared with the months it takes to set up and register a local entity.
Can I use Vertrou EOR for someone I have already found?
Yes. Vertrou can employ a candidate you have already identified, or you can use Vertrou Outsourcing to find the right person first.
Who manages the employee day to day?
You do. You lead the work, culture and performance. Vertrou stays the legal employer, so any formal performance or disciplinary process is led by our EOR and payroll team, in line with South African labour law.
What is included in the EOR service?
Employment contracts, payroll management, tax and statutory contribution administration, leave and benefits administration, onboarding and offboarding support, ongoing local HR support, and labour law compliance as legislation changes.
How much does Vertrou EOR cost?
Vertrou charges a simple, flat monthly fee per employee, with flexible deposit options. Exact pricing is tailored to your team and shared on a call. The salary comparison calculator gives an indicative comparison of salary costs.
Do you only work with recruitment firms?
No. Vertrou works with businesses of any size and background, including recruitment firms, that want to employ people in South Africa.
Hire your first South African employee this month
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