Work conditions in Mauritania

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

40 hours. However, in reality it is not rare for a worker to work a 56 hour week.

Retirement Age

60 years for men, 55 years for women.

Working Contracts

The Mauritanian work legislation is defined by the Law no 2004-015 concerning the Labour Code. It recognizes two types of contracts: non-fixed term contracts and fixed term contracts (renewable twice in the limit of two consecutive years). It lays down the conditions of dismissal, of women's  and children's work. It established the modality of inspection control, occupational medicine and subjects offences to penalties. The disputes are treated by the Labour Court which can be reached after a tentative at reconciliation has been made. The Direction of Labour of the Ministry of Labour has the responsibility of applying the law, but in fact, respect for labour law is limited.

The right to collective negotiation is guaranteed by the Labour Code. A tripartite consultation process also exists: it joins the State, trade union representatives and the Economical and Social Council.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

30,000 MRU per month (Source: Minimum-Wage.org).

Average Wage

238,900 MRU per year (Source: World Salaries)

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 15%
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: 1%

Social Partners

Employer Associations

ICC Bangladesh - International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh
MCCI - Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
DCCI - Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry
BSCIC - Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Corporation
BEF - Bangladesh Employers' Federation

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

Trade union organization is divided into five centrals and four autonomous trade unions. The centrals are the Union of Mauritanian Workers (UTM), the General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers (CGTM), The Free Confederation of Mauritanian Workers (CLTM), The Union of Free Trade Unions of Mauritania (USLM) and the General Union of Mauritanian Workers (UGTM). The autonomous trade unions concern the dockers profession and education. Mauritania is also a member of the Arab Maghreb Union of Workers' Trade Unions. Different factors limit the unions' action power: they lack unity of action, they are subject to pressure and are victims of political intimidations. Faced with the boom of the informal sector, which completely escapes work legislation, they do not know how to intervene.

Mauritania also includes one employers' organisation: the National Employers' Union of Mauritania (in Arabic and French)(CNPM).

Labour Unions

General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers (In French)

Unionisation Rate

Between 25 and 30% but these figures must be handled with care.

Labour Regulation Bodies

Center of European and International Social Security Relations and its summary of Mauritanian social security regime
Mauritanian Labour Code (French text)
The Law No 2004-017 concerning the Labour Code (French text)
That text of the Mauritanian inter professional collective contract (French text)