====== Mauritania ====== **Region:** Northern Africa **Regional Economic Communities (REC):** AMU · CEN-SAD → [[https://iiag.online/locations/mr.html|View IIAG Country Statistics]] ---- ^ Indicator ^ Data ^ | **Governance (IIAG)** | Overall Governance score: 42.5 / 100 · Rank: 41st / 54 | ---- ===== PART 1 – HIGH-LEVEL COUNTRY MAPPING ===== ==== Institutions and Stakeholder Database ==== (To be linked) ---- ==== REC Membership ==== * AMU * CEN-SAD ---- ==== Population size and size of the informal economy ==== Mauritania’s population is estimated at approximately **5.3 million (2025)**. The informal economy is highly significant, with approximately **89.4% of the workforce engaged in informal employment**, representing a dominant share of economic activity. ---- ==== Nature of the legal system and ILO status ==== Mauritania operates a **hybrid legal system**, combining: * French civil law traditions * Sharia (Islamic law), constitutionally recognised as a primary source of law This creates a dual system where judicial actors are trained across both traditions. Mauritania has been a member of the **International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1961**. The **Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP)** focuses on: * Youth and women’s employment * Development of key sectors (construction and fisheries) * Strengthening labour inspection systems ---- ==== Workers’ rights in human rights system, national labour law / social protection and scope of protection ==== Workers’ rights are recognised in: * **Constitution of 1991 (as amended 2012)** * **Labour Code (Act No. 2004-017 of 06 July 2004)** These provide for: * Freedom of association * Collective bargaining However: * Restrictions exist on strikes and union activity * Certain sectors (e.g. military) are excluded * Enforcement remains weak Mauritania is also bound by regional human rights instruments, including the **African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights**, though practical enforcement gaps persist. ---- ==== Existing laws, policy and regulatory initiatives for the protection of workers in the informal economy ==== Mauritania relies primarily on: * Labour Code (2004) * Sector-specific decrees * Social protection mechanisms However, **informal workers remain largely outside effective enforcement systems**, despite formal legal inclusion. ---- ===== PART 2 – SECTOR SPECIFIC REGULATION ===== ---- ==== Domestic Work Sector ==== **Labour Code (2004)** Provides general framework for employment relations. **Decree No. 797/MFPTMA of 18 August 2011** * Requires **registered employment contracts** (Art. 3(3)) * Enforces **minimum wage compliance** (Art. 6) * Limits working hours to **260 hours/month** with overtime (Arts. 12, 15, 16) * Guarantees **weekly rest** (Art. 17) * Provides **paid leave** (Art. 18) * Requires **registration with social services** (Art. 13) Despite regulation, enforcement remains weak, particularly in informal domestic employment. ---- ==== Street Vendor ==== **Consumer Protection Act (No. 2020/007 of 4 June 2020)** Regulates hygiene, product standards, and consumer protection. **Commercial Code (Act No. 2015-32)** * Street vendors are **exempt from formal business registration** * Must obtain a **municipal identification number** (Art. 10 bis) * Registration is: * Free * Immediate * Administrative only * Municipalities maintain vendor registers * Officials delaying registration face sanctions (Art. 10 quinquies) ---- ==== Waste Reclaiming ==== Waste governance is regulated through: * Environmental legislation (early 2000s) * Plastic bag bans * Municipal waste management systems Key challenges: * Limited municipal capacity * Weak infrastructure * Emerging recycling initiatives and PPP models ---- ==== Home working ==== No specific legal framework. Home work is governed by: * Labour Code (2004) * Individual employment contracts General protections apply: * 40-hour workweek * Paid leave * Minimum wage ---- ==== Gig Work and the Platform Economy ==== No specific regulation. Gig workers are governed by: * Labour Code (2004) * General employment principles Gaps: * No classification framework * No targeted protections for platform workers ---- ==== Farm Work ==== Farm workers are covered under general labour law: * Minimum wage * Working hours * Social security Key issues: * Widespread informal labour (tacheronnat system) * Weak enforcement * Child labour prevalence * Persistent forced labour risks Land governance is addressed through **Agricultural Land Policy**, but implementation challenges remain. ---- ==== The Mining Sector and Artisanal Mining ==== **Mining Code (Act No. 2008-011 of 27 April 2008)** * Applies to all mining activities (Arts. 2–3) * Covers extraction, processing, and marketing Defines **artisanal mining** as: * Small-scale quarry operations * Maximum extraction threshold (Art. 81(2)) ---- ==== Taxi and Transport Sector (Gig-work/platform economy overlap) ==== * Highly **informal transport sector** * Limited regulatory clarity * Weak fare regulation Challenges: * Safety risks * Lack of structured oversight * Limited enforcement capacity ---- ==== Cross-Border Informal Trade ==== No dedicated legal framework. However: * Policies focus on **formalisation and anti-smuggling** * Participation in **international initiatives (e.g. IOE)** * Efforts to support **small-scale traders**, especially women ---- ===== Sources / Links ===== * IIAG – Mauritania: https://iiag.online/locations/mr.html * Mauritania Labour Code (2004) * Commercial Code (2015) * Mining Code (2008) * Consumer Protection Act (2020)