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

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(To be linked)

• CEN-SAD
• ECOWAS

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

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.

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)

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

Labour Act, 2023

• Applies generally to employment relationships, including domestic work

→ Labour Act, 2023

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

Regulated indirectly through multiple frameworks:

Labour Act, 2023 → Labour Act, 2023

National Employment Policy and Implementation Plan (2019–2024) → Employment Policy & Action Plan

Children’s Amendment Act, 2016 → Children’s Amendment Act

National Social Protection Policy (2015–2025) → Social Protection Policy

Key features:

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

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No dedicated gig economy framework identified.

Relevant instruments:

Labour Act, 2023 → Labour Act, 2023

Labour Rights Index (2022) → Labour Rights Index – Gambia

Observation:

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

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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

• 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