Niger

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

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(To be linked)

• CEN-SAD
• ECOWAS
• OHADA

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Niger operates a civil law system, influenced by French legal traditions and OHADA harmonised business law.

Niger has been a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1961 and participates in the Decent Work Agenda, with priorities including:

• Employment creation
• Labour rights protection
• Social protection expansion
• Formalisation of the informal economy

Workers’ rights in Niger are governed through:

• Labour legislation (Labour Code and related instruments)
• Constitutional protections
• International labour standards

These frameworks provide for:

• Regulation of employment relationships
• Minimum labour standards
• Occupational health and safety protections

However:

• Informal employment remains widespread
• Enforcement capacity is limited
• Social protection coverage is largely confined to formal sector workers

Niger’s approach reflects:

• General labour law frameworks
• Sector-specific regulation (particularly in mining)

However:

• Limited targeted regulation for informal workers
• Weak integration of informal economy actors into formal systems

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Mining Act (Act No. 2022-033 of 5 July 2022) (as amended and supplemented by Act No. 2023 of 9 May 2023)

Definition of artisanal mining (Art. 1):

• Activities involving:
  • Extraction and processing of minerals
  • Recovery of marketable mining products

• Methods:
  • Manual and traditional techniques
  • Limited use of metallisation and electrical energy

• Restrictions:
  • Use of explosives and chemicals is prohibited
  • Activities are not based on prior geological identification of deposits

Key insight:

• Provides clear legal recognition of artisanal mining
• Reflects a structured approach to regulating informal extractive activity

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Niger’s position within ECOWAS facilitates:

• Regional mobility
• Informal cross-border trade

However:

• Trade remains largely informal
• Regulatory oversight is limited
• Informal trade plays a key role in livelihoods

• IIAG – Niger: https://iiag.online/locations/ne.html
• Mining Act (2022, amended 2023)
• ILO Country Profile – Niger (to be linked)