Talent Wiki - Mauritania
Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Mauritania
Capital
Nouakchott
Currency
Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU)
Languages
Arabic, Fula, Soninke, Wolof
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
GDP per Capita
$1,481
Employer Tax
15%
Talent Overview
Mauritania is located in the Northwestern part of Africa with 90% of its territory situated in the Sahara. The country is the 119th freest economy in the world and is ranked 20th among the 47 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The country mainly relies on agriculture and livestock. However, the country’s large iron ore deposits constitute 50% of the country’s exports. The main countries they export to are China (38.6%), Spain (15.2%), and Japan (8.4%).
Major economic hubs:
Nouakchott
Skills in demand:
Mining Professionals, Education Professionals, Agriculture Professionals, Skilled Professionals
Local Universities
The top universities in Mauritania are;
Université des Sciences, de Technologie et de Médecine (University of Science, Technology and Medicine)
RANKING
Local: 1
World: 8302
Institut Supérieur d’Etudes et de Recherche Islamiques (Advanced Institute for Islamic Studies and Research)
RANKING
Local: 2
World: 11569
Université Libanaise Internationale en Mauritanie (Lebanese International University of Mauritania)
RANKING
Local: 3
World: 12044
École Nationale d’Administration, de Journalisme et de Magistrature (National School of Administration, Journalism and Magistracy)
RANKING
Local: 4
World: 12825
Salary Data
The table contains the average monthly salary in Mauritania
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (in MRU) | Average Monthly Salary (in USD) |
| Information Technology Manager | 34,300.00 | 943 |
| Network Engineer | 16,700.00 | 459 |
| Developer / Programmer | 20,200.00 | 555 |
| Project Manager | 22,200.00 | 610 |
| Database Administrator | 20,100.00 | 552 |
| Business Analyst | 24,100.00 | 663 |
| Business Development Manager | 31,900.00 | 877 |
Talent Sourcing Tips
Top Local Job Boards:
Jobnet Africa, Careers in Africa
Number of LinkedIn users:
98,900
Top Recruitment Agencies:
Airswift, ZH Recruitment, International Staffing Company
Employing in Mauritania
Hiring in Mauritania requires you to be aware of the local employment laws, benefits, payroll, and taxes. Given below is everything you need to know on how to successfully onboard talents from Mauritania.
Employee Contract
Contracts in Mauritania can either be written or oral. However, the best practice is to provide a written contract in Arabic or languages understood by the employee with all the provisions and details for employment.
Probation Period
The probationary period for new employees depends on the contract between the employee and employer.
Public and Provincial Holidays
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | Public Holiday |
| 22 Apr | Eid ul-Fitr (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 1 May | Labor Day / May Day | Public Holiday |
| 25 May | Africa Day | Public Holiday |
| 29 Jun | Eid al-Adha (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 19 Jul | Muharram/Islamic New Year (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 27 Sep | Milad un Nabi (Mawlid) (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 28 Nov | Independence Day | Public Holiday |
Employee Leaves
| Type of leave | Time period | Mandatory |
| Annual leave/Earned Leave | 18 days | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 14 weeks | Yes |
| Sick Leave | – | No |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
Workers are paid monthly.
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Mauritania is MRU 30,000.00 per month.
Overtime Pay
Overtime pay in Mauritania depends on the collective bargaining agreements as there are no set rules around the same in the country.
Bonus
13th Month Pay
The 13th-month pay is not mandatory in Mauritania.
Employee Benefits
Full-time employees in Mauritania are ensured to have insurance benefits such as
- Old Age Pension
- Family Benefits
- Accident / Injury Benefit
- Disability Benefit
- Death Benefit
Taxes
Employer Payroll Tax
| Contribution | Rate (%) |
| Industrial Health | 1.75 |
| Industrial Injury | 4.75 |
| Retirement Plans | 4.75 |
| Family Allowances | 3.75 |
| Total | 15 |
Employee Payroll Tax
| Contribution | Rate (%) |
| Industrial Health | 0.25 |
| Industrial Injury | 0.25 |
| Retirement Plans | 0.25 |
| Family Allowances | 0.25 |
| Total | 1 |
Employee Income Tax
| Taxable Remuneration (MRU) | Rate (%) |
| From 6,000.00 to 9,000.00 | 15 |
| Between 9,000.00 to 21,000.00 | 25 |
| Over 21,000.00 | 40 |
VAT
The standard VAT in Mauritania is usually 16% for local goods, 20% for petroleum products, and 18% for telephony.
Offboarding & Termination
Employers must provide a written notice for terminating employees specifying valid reasons under the labour code. Failure to do so is illegal and may be subject to fines and legal action.
The notice period for probationary and regular employees is up to two weeks.
There are no provisions for severance pay in Mauritania.
Visa and Immigration
Applying for a business visa to Mauritania, travelers must have the following documents ready for application.
- Valid passport of at least 6 months
- Visa Application form
- 4 passport-sized photographs
- Letter of financial solvency from a local bank
- Proof of employment
- A letter from the company for the purpose of the visit
- A letter from the host company from Mauritania
- Ticket and confirmed itinerary for the whole trip
For more information, you can contact your Mauritanian embassy or consulate in your country.
