Secondment Arrangements in Kazakhstan – How Do They Work? An Overview of Key Secondment Issues in the Republic
Abai Shaikenov, Partner with SALANS international law firm
Anthony G. Cioni, Senior associate with SALANS international law firm
As the pace of exploration and development projects in the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian heats up, upstream companies, oil service companies and placement agencies are trying to come to terms with the huge need for foreign specialists generated by this work.
Aside from the primary concern of simply having enough people to do the job, companies are also contending with the vagaries of Kazakhstan labour and tax laws. As a result many are now weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods used to import foreign specialists, including secondment arrangements.
Although secondments are common place in the international oil industry, they are a relatively new idea to Kazakhstan law. This means that many of the aspects of the secondment model that are beyond question in most jurisdictions are not necessarily sacrosanct in Kazakhstan. This creates difficulties for companies looking to use a secondment structure in the Republic.
In this article we will examine some of the salient issues affecting secondments under Kazakhstan law.
Exactly What Is a Secondment?
Before examining the impact of Kazakhstan law, it is useful to revisit the nature of the secondment itself. In a secondment arrangement, one company (the “Secondor”) ‘lends’ an employee (the “Secondee”) to another company (the “Client”) in exchange for a fee. The Secondee remains under the employment of the Secondor during the secondment and does not become a formal employee of the Client. The usual result is that the Secondee continues to draw a salary paid by the Secondor in his or her home country.
The Secondor and the Client usually come to some agreement on the liabilities arising from the improper performance of the Secondee’s duties. Although these arrangements vary from contract to contract, the Secondor is usually liable (at least to some degree) for any defects and damages resulting from the Secondee’s substandard work.
In addition, the parties usually apportion the liability for damages to their respective people and equipment on a Knock-for-Knock basis. Knock-for-Knock is a standard practice utilized by oil companies and oil service companies; whereby each is responsible for loss to its own personnel and property, irrespective of which party caused the loss.
Work Permit Considerations
We have noticed in our practice experience that many Secondors and Clients share a common misconception that the secondment of foreign specialists obviates the need for a work permit. This is categorically not the case and companies relying on this assumption can get themselves into a legal quagmire.
Generally speaking, a foreign specialist needs a work permit if he or she wishes to work in Kazakhstan for a period of more than forty-five (45) days per year. Unfortunately the law does not distinguish between work done directly for a Kazakhstan employer from work done under a secondment. In fact, the law makes no reference to secondments at all. This means that Secondees need permits to work in country.
Kazakhstan law requires that the ‘employer’ obtain the work permit for the specialist. This creates an odd result in the case of secondments; requiring the foreign based Secondor to apply for the work permit instead of the Client. This is further complicated by the fact that the law requires the applicant to be registered in Kazakhstan as either a branch or representative office. Since most Secondors are not comfortable registering themselves in Kazakhstan solely for the purposes of procuring a work permit, the Client often submits the work permit application in its own name.
Although beyond the scope of this article, it is important to note that the work permit application process is beset with a number of serious problems. Parties applying for work permits can reasonably expect a prolonged application period (often two (2) to six (6) months) and are far from guaranteed to get the permit in the end, particularly as the annual quota allowance for work permits dwindles towards the end of the year. It is also imperative to understand that work permits are issued to the Secondee and not for the position filled by the Secondee. This complicates secondments that envisage the rotation of a number of Secondees, as each Secondee would require a separate work permit.
How Does Kazakhstan Law Deal with Secondments?
The short answer to this question is that Kazakhstan law is absolutely silent on secondments. In result, secondment contracts are governed by the general principles set out in the civil and labour law. On one hand this is helpful because its gives the Secondor and the Client greater freedom to come to terms under the secondment contract. On the other hand, it creates some difficulties under Kazakhstan law when conforming the arrangement to Kazakhstan labour and work permit requirements.
Under Kazakhstan labour law, the legal relationship between an employer and an employee must be formalized with an employment contract. At first glance, this rule ought not to affect the secondment model because the Secondee will not be the Client’s formal employee. Similarly, Kazakhstan law usually has no bearing on the employment relationship between the Secondor and Secondee, as the laws of their home jurisdiction (e.g. Scotland) presumably govern the same.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there is a practical necessity for the Secondee and the Client to ink a contract. As stated above, the Client is often practically responsible for the work permit application submitted in respect of the Secondee. If the Client is successful in procuring an initial work permit approval from the authorities, it must follow up by submitting a number of documents.
One of these documents is an employment agreement between the Client and the Secondee. Here again, Kazakhstan law is at variance with the standard secondment model. As explained, the Secondee usually remains the formal employee of the Secondor and is not directly employed by the Client. This puts the parties in the uncomfortable position of having to use a document that undermines the main secondment contract.
If the parties decide to use a short-form employment contract between the Client and the Secondee in order to secure the work permit, we recommend that they carefully consider the terms of the same with a view to minimizing the legal risks arising from any conflicts between that contract and the main secondment contract.
For example, we explained above that the Secondor is usually liable to the Client for defects in the Secondee’s work product. This is consistent with the general proposition under Kazakhstan and Anglo-American law that an employer is liable for the actions of its employee. If the Secondee formally has two (2) employers in the present case, then it is not clear who is vicariously liable for the Secondee’s misdeeds. This could lead to legal wrangling between the Secondor and the Client in cases where the Secondee’s defective work product caused a loss.
Another example relates to any injury that might befall the Secondee or any damage to his/her property. As we explained above, the Secondor and the Client are usually liable for damage to their respective personnel and property under the Knock-for-Knock principle. It is not clear how this would play out if both the Secondor and the Client formally employed the Secondee.
Finally, the use of two (2) employment contracts raises issues with respect to the Secondee’s remuneration. If the Secondee is formally an employee of the Client, then should his or her entire salary be paid directly by the Client in Kazakhstan under the local law agreement? This is another point where Kazakhstan law and the secondment model do not mesh properly. The Secondee may have legitimate concerns about being paid in Kazakhstan when he or she normally works in the UK, for instance. In any case, the Client normally pays the Secondor’s fees and not the Secondee’s salary.
We understand that some companies draft the local employment agreement in such a way that some amount of money is classified as salary and is paid in accordance with the terms of the secondment Agreement between the Secondor and the Client. Evidently, the allocation of salary under the local employment contract is a sensitive matter that can, if done aggressively, raise risks of Kazakhstan tax evasion. We would caution readers on this point and would encourage consultation with a qualified Kazakhstan lawyer or accountant.
Corporate Tax Matters Affecting the Secondor
Under the Tax Code income derived by non-resident companies from goods, works and services in Kazakhstan is considered to be Kazakhstan source income and is subject to Kazakhstan corporate income tax. Since the secondment of personnel generally constitutes the provision of services to the Client, the Secondor’s income from the secondment agreement is usually subject to tax. In situations where the Secondor is a non-resident of Kazakhstan for tax purposes, the Client withholds the tax at source. The general rate of withholding tax is fifteen (15%) percent, unless altered by international treaty between Kazakhstan and the Secondor’s home state.
One might assume that seconding an employee into Kazakhstan is enough to determine the residency of the Secondor. At first glance, the Tax Code appears to provide some relieve in this respect. Under the law, the Secondor is not deemed to be a resident merely as a result of entering into a secondment arrangement; provided that the:
1. Secondee acts exclusively on behalf of and in interests of the Client;
2. The Secondor is not liable for the results of the work performed by the Secondee; and
3. The Secondor does not have more than a ten (10%) percent mark up on the secondment costs.
The second criterion above is of particular note. As stated, the Secondor is usually liable for the actions of the Secondee and such responsibility goes to the heart of the Secondor’s reputation as a good service provider. A Client may perceive any attempt to step away from such liability as a negative sign of the Secondor’s trustworthiness. The ten (10%) percent mark-up limitation is similarly restrictive. In view of the above commercial restrictions, the above residency exemption would not appear to be of great use for many oil service companies. From this narrow exemption, it would seem that the State is intent on pushing international service companies to register and pay taxes in Kazakhstan in respect of secondment income.
To the extent the Secondor qualifies as a resident under Kazakhstan law, its income is taxable at thirty (30%) percent. Depending on the Secondor’s home country, the burden of double taxation may be alleviated by international treaty.
Personal Income Tax Matters Affecting the Secondee
The following benefits qualify as taxable Kazakhstan source income in the hands of the Secondor:
· income received from under employment and other agreements
· additional payments made for living expenses
· other benefits such as expenses for meals, housing, schooling for dependants, and expenses related to leisure activities, including vacation travel for family members
The above categories cover not only the Secondee’s salary but also any allowances and benefits paid in connection with that person’s travel to, from and stay in Kazakhstan. The taxes in question are to be withheld at source. This is another point where Kazakhstan law does not meet the standard secondment model. Evidently, the only party in a position to withhold at source would be the Client. In any case, the Client is unlikely to make a large portion of the payments made to the Secondee. The result of the foregoing is that the Secondee must pay individual income tax on those other payments by him or herself.
On a final note, Secondees should be registered as taxpayers in Kazakhstan. This will allow for the payment of taxes and will lessen the risk of any personal liability on the employee for failing to pay taxes. Depending on the Secondee’s home country, the burden of double taxation may be alleviated by international treaty.
Table of contents
The National Bank of Kazakhstan Strikes the Balance Anvar Saidenov
LUKOIL Overseas: a Record-Breaking Year of Business in Kazakhstan Boris Silbermintz
IMSTALCON: in Word and Deed! Vladimir Khoroshilov
Matrix Agritech, Your Partner in Agribusiness Robert Asscheman
DHL: We Go Wherever the Business Is! Yuri Shevchenko
The Investment Climate Needs to be Warmer Dinmukhamet Idrisov
Draft Law on Offshore PSAs: Merits and Drawbacks Daniyar Tenelov
Secondment Arrangements in Kazakhstan – How Do They Work? An Overview of Key Secondment Issues in the Republic Abai Shaikenov, Anthony G. Cioni
Recruiting the Right Personnel Vladimir Sidorenko
A Tiger Trap Or How to Hire the Best of the Best Alexander Vysotsky
Administrative Technology Is Coming to Kazakhstan Yevgeniya Teryukova
