Brunei

Last Update by michelletai, 06 May 2025

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Exchange Rate

06 May 2025

 

Cost of Living

Indicative value for a working adult in a city: Bandar Seri Begawan

Publicly available data (Numbeo, etc..), verified by Marco’s in-country staff

Living Requirement Indicative Amount (BND)
McDonalds Set Meal 8
Monthly Train and Bus Tickets 66
3 Bedrooms Rental (City Center) 1675
3 Bedrooms Rental (Outskirt) 1055

Current Inflation Rate

-0.5%

Wage

Minimum Wages

  • Only regulated for 7 industries; Banking & Finance, Info-Communication Technology, Medical & Dental, Private Higher Education, Architecture/Professional Engineering/Quality & Land Surveyor, Tourism & Accommodation, Security
    - BND500/month or BND2.62/hour for part-timers

Median Salary

Estimated based on general positions such as HR, Accounting, Admin roles, in tier one cities.

Job Level Monthly Salary (BND)
Entry-Level
Fresh Graduate
 1500
Mid-Level
5 Years
 2200
Experienced & Managerial Level
10 Years
 3500
Specialized & Senior-Level
15 Years
 5000

Annual Salary Growth

5%

Statutory Contribution

Country Level

Type Employer Rates Employee Rates Notes
National Retirement Scheme (SPK)

*inclusive of TAP & SCP 		- BND57.50 (≤ BND500)
- 10.5% (BND500 < Salary ≤ BND1,500)
- 9.5% (BND1,500 BND2,800) 		8.5% All local staff and permanent residents.
Workmen’s Compensation Insurance - 1% (Low-Risk Job, e.g. Clerk)
- 2% (Medium-Risk Job, e.g. Retail worker)
- 4% (High-Risk Job, e.g. Construction worker)
- 6% (Very High-Risk Job, e.g. Oil Rig worker) 		NA Workers who perform manual tasks, or;

Workers who do not perform a manual task with wages not exceeding BND750.00 per month

Other Benefit

Other common employment benefits in Brunei include:

  • Hospitalization and Medical Benefits: Approximately BND200

Income Tax

Residents

  • Individuals are not taxable

Working Hours

Statutory

44 hours
8 hours per day

Overtime

No more than 72 hours per month

  • Workdays: 150% of basic salary
  • Overtime for non-regular working hours:
    • Half day or less: 100% of basic daily pay
    • More than half day but less than 8 hours: 200% of basic daily pay
    • More than 8 hours: 200% of basic daily pay for first 8 hours + 150% of basic daily pay for each extra hour

Employment Contract

Permanent

Contract Format

Written in English or Malay

(If there is any disparity between the English and Malay versions of the contract, the Malay version will take precedence)

Payroll Currency

BND

Probation

Typical practice 3-6 months

Contract Period

-

Termination

  Voluntary Resignation Involuntary Termination Economic Layoff
Notice Period - Probation 1 day 1 day 1 day
Notice Period - Regular - Less than 26 weeks: 1 day - 26 weeks to less than 2 years: 1 week - 2 years to less than 5 years: 2 weeks - More than 5 years: 4 weeks - Less than 26 weeks: 1 day - 26 weeks to less than 2 years: 1 week - 2 years to less than 5 years: 2 weeks - More than 5 years: 4 weeks - Less than 26 weeks: 1 day - 26 weeks to less than 2 years: 1 week - 2 years to less than 5 years: 2 weeks - More than 5 years: 4 weeks
Severance Pay Not Applicable Not mandatory, unless stated in contract Not mandatory, unless stated in contract

Public Holiday

11 days
If the Public Holiday falls on Saturday/Sunday, the following Monday shall be observed as off-in-lieu. If Saturday is a working day, off in-lieu will not be applicable.

Country Level

Date Name
01 Jan New Year's Day
27 Jan Isra and Mi'raj
29 Jan Chinese New Year
23 Feb - 24 Feb National Day
01 Mar Ramadan Start
17 Mar Nuzul Al-Qur'an
31 Mar - 02 Apr Eid-ul-Fitr
31 May Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day
07 Jun Eid ul Adha
27 Jun - 28 Jun Islamic New Year
15 Jul Sultan's Birthday
05 Sep - 06 Sep Milad un Nabi
25 Dec Christmas Day

Leave

Leave Type Entitlement Notes
Annual Leave - 7 days
- Additional one day from base for every subsequent 12 months of continuous service with a limit of 14 days
All staff with 12 months’ service

For staff who had worked >3 months but <12 months, annual leave will be entitled in proportion to the number of completed months of service.
Sick/Hospitalization Leave - 14 days
- Up to 60 days (for all hospitalized staff)
 All staff with 6 months’ service
Maternity Leave - 9 weeks (Foreign staff)
- 15 weeks (Local staff)
 All staff with 6 months’ service

For foreign staff;
- 4 weeks immediately before the delivery of her child and 5 weeks immediately after the delivery of her child.
- Final week is considered unpaid leave.

For local staff and permanent residents;
- The period of 2 weeks immediately before the delivery of the child and 13 weeks immediately after the delivery of the child.
- Final 2 weeks are considered unpaid leave

Reference

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