Regulation of Work in Africa

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====== Gambia ======

**Region:** Western Africa  
**Regional Economic Communities (REC):** CEN-SAD · ECOWAS  

→ [[https://iiag.online/locations/gm.html|View IIAG Country Statistics]]

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^ Indicator ^ Data ^
| **Governance (IIAG)** | Overall Governance score: 54.7 / 100 · Rank: 20th / 54 |

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===== PART 1 – HIGH-LEVEL COUNTRY MAPPING =====

==== Institutions and Stakeholder Database ====
(To be linked)

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==== REC Membership ====

  * CEN-SAD
  * ECOWAS

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==== Population size and size of the informal economy ====

The informal economy in The Gambia is estimated at approximately **76.7% of total employment**, making it the dominant source of livelihoods.

  * Women account for approximately **87.3%** of participants in the informal economy  
  * Estimated contribution of approximately **$4 billion (GDP PPP)**  

The informal sector is particularly concentrated in:

  * Street trading  
  * Small-scale agriculture  
  * Services and micro-enterprises  

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==== Nature of the legal system and ILO status ====

The Gambia operates a **mixed legal system**, combining:

  * Common law (British influence)  
  * Statutory law  
  * Customary law  

The Gambia has been a member of the **International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1995** and participates in the **Decent Work Agenda**, including the development of national employment and social protection frameworks.

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==== Workers’ rights in human rights system, national labour law / social protection and scope of protection ====

**Labour Act, 2023** (repealing the Labour Act of 2007) represents a significant reform of the labour framework.

**Key provision (informal economy relevance):**

  * **Section 15** mandates labour implementation officers to:
    * Assist **small and informal enterprises**  
    * Promote compliance with labour legislation  
    * Provide guidance on employment standards  

This reflects a **facilitative enforcement model**, rather than purely punitive regulation.

Supporting policy frameworks include:

  * National Social Protection Policy (2015–2025)  
  * National Employment Policy and Implementation Plan (2019–2024)  

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==== Existing laws, policy and regulatory initiatives for the protection of workers in the informal economy ====

The Gambia adopts a **policy-led and facilitative approach**, combining:

  * Labour law reform  
  * Social protection expansion  
  * Employment policy frameworks  

However:

  * Informality remains structurally dominant  
  * Enforcement capacity remains limited  

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===== PART 2 – SECTOR SPECIFIC REGULATION =====

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==== Domestic Work Sector ====

**Labour Act, 2023**

  * Applies generally to employment relationships, including domestic work  

→ [[https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/116766/Labour%20Act%202023.pdf|Labour Act, 2023]]

**Note:**  
No detailed sector-specific regulation identified; coverage remains general.

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==== Street Vendor ====

Regulated indirectly through multiple frameworks:

**Labour Act, 2023**  
→ [[https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/116766/Labour%20Act%202023.pdf|Labour Act, 2023]]

**National Employment Policy and Implementation Plan (2019–2024)**  
→ [[https://motie.gov.gm/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Employment-Policy-and-Action-Plan-2019-2024-1.pdf|Employment Policy & Action Plan]]

**Children’s Amendment Act, 2016**  
→ [[https://security-legislation.gm/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Childrens-Amendment-Act-2016.pdf|Children’s Amendment Act]]

**National Social Protection Policy (2015–2025)**  
→ [[https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/gam210883.pdf|Social Protection Policy]]

**Key features:**

  * Recognition of informal trade  
  * Child labour protections  
  * Integration into employment policy  

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==== Waste Reclaiming ====

(Content to be added)

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==== Home working ====

(Content to be added)

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==== Gig Work and the Platform Economy ====

No dedicated gig economy framework identified.

Relevant instruments:

**Labour Act, 2023**  
→ [[https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/116766/Labour%20Act%202023.pdf|Labour Act, 2023]]

**Labour Rights Index (2022)**  
→ [[https://labourrightsindex.org/lri-2022-documents/gambia-republic-of-the.pdf|Labour Rights Index – Gambia]]

**Observation:**

  * Platform work likely treated as **informal/self-employment**  
  * Limited regulatory clarity  

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==== Farm Work ====

(Content to be added)

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==== The Mining Sector and Artisanal Mining ====

(Content to be added)

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==== Taxi and Transport Sector (Gig-work/platform economy overlap) ====

(Content to be added)

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==== Cross-Border Informal Trade ====

Relevant frameworks include:

  * Labour Act, 2007 (legacy framework)  
  * National Employment Policy (2019–2024)  

Cross-border informal trade remains:

  * Economically significant  
  * Largely unregulated  
  * Driven by ECOWAS regional mobility  

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===== Sources / Links =====

  * IIAG – Gambia: https://iiag.online/locations/gm.html  
  * Labour Act, 2023: https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/116766/Labour%20Act%202023.pdf  
  * National Employment Policy (2019–2024): https://motie.gov.gm/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Employment-Policy-and-Action-Plan-2019-2024-1.pdf  
  * National Social Protection Policy (2015–2025): https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/gam210883.pdf  
  * Children’s Amendment Act, 2016: https://security-legislation.gm/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Childrens-Amendment-Act-2016.pdf  
  * Labour Rights Index (2022): https://labourrightsindex.org/lri-2022-documents/gambia-republic-of-the.pdf