Region: Eastern Africa Regional Economic Communities (REC): CEN-SAD · COMESA · SADC · OHADA

(To be linked)

• CEN-SAD
• COMESA
• SADC
• OHADA

The population of Comoros is estimated at approximately 852,000 people.

Like many small island developing states, the economy is characterised by a large informal sector, particularly in:

• Small-scale agriculture
• Fishing
• Informal trade
• Transport services

Informal employment represents a major share of total employment, reflecting limited formal job opportunities.

Comoros operates within a mixed legal system influenced by:

• French civil law traditions
• Islamic law
• Customary practices

The Constitution forms the foundation of the legal system, with legislation enacted through the national parliament.

Comoros has been a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1978.

The country has collaborated with the ILO in developing policies and programmes aligned with the Decent Work Agenda, including support for the implementation of a Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP).

Workers’ rights in Comoros are derived from:

• Constitutional protections
• National labour legislation
• Ratified international human rights treaties

Key rights recognised within this framework include:

• Freedom of association
• Protection against forced labour
• Basic labour standards and working conditions
• Access to social protection systems

However, challenges remain in relation to:

• Enforcement of labour standards
• Limited coverage of social protection
• High levels of informal employment

Policy initiatives aimed at improving labour conditions and social protection coverage include:

• Labour law reforms intended to align national legislation with international labour standards
• Programmes supporting employment creation and entrepreneurship
• Initiatives linked to the ILO Decent Work Agenda

Efforts to extend protections to informal workers remain a key policy challenge due to the scale of informal economic activity.

The following sectors are analysed in relation to the regulation of work in the informal economy.

Domestic work is generally governed by national labour legislation, although specific regulation of domestic workers may be limited.

Workers are typically covered under broader labour law provisions relating to employment contracts and working conditions.

Street vending forms an important component of urban informal economies in Comoros.

Local authorities may regulate vending through municipal licensing and public space regulations, although enforcement varies.

Waste reclaiming activities are generally addressed indirectly through environmental and waste management policies, rather than through labour legislation.

Informal waste collectors often operate outside formal regulatory frameworks.

Home-based work exists primarily in small-scale production and family-based economic activities.

Regulation is generally covered under broader labour law provisions where a formal employment relationship exists.

Digital platform work remains limited in Comoros due to relatively low levels of digital infrastructure.

However, forms of self-employment and freelance economic activity may fall within broader legal definitions of independent work.

Agriculture remains a major source of employment.

Farm work is typically organised through:

• Family labour
• Smallholder farming
• Informal employment arrangements

Labour protections may be limited in practice due to the prevalence of informal agricultural work.

Comoros does not have a significant mining sector.

Economic activity is instead focused on:

• Agriculture
• Fisheries
• Small-scale trade

Artisanal extraction activities are limited.

Informal transport services, including taxis and shared vehicles, operate within urban areas.

Regulation may include:

• Vehicle licensing
• Road safety standards
• Municipal oversight

Drivers often operate as self-employed workers.

Cross-border trade occurs primarily within the Indian Ocean region, including trade links with neighbouring countries such as Madagascar and Tanzania.

Small-scale traders often operate within informal trading networks.

• Ibrahim Index of African Governance – Comoros
• ILO Country Profile – Comoros
• UN Population Data
• Regional economic community documentation