Mauritania

Region: Northern Africa Regional Economic Communities (REC): AMU · CEN-SAD

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(To be linked)

• AMU
• CEN-SAD

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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

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

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 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.

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))

• Highly informal transport sector
• Limited regulatory clarity
• Weak fare regulation

Challenges:

• Safety risks
• Lack of structured oversight
• Limited enforcement capacity

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

• IIAG – Mauritania: https://iiag.online/locations/mr.html
• Mauritania Labour Code (2004)
• Commercial Code (2015)
• Mining Code (2008)
• Consumer Protection Act (2020)