Fula, Soninke, and Wolof 

Greenwich Mean Time(GMT) 

Undoubtedly, payroll is a critical aspect of any organization. The Pay cycle is a notable feature of it that provides a sense of accountability for an employee to be paid consistently for their work.  

In mauritania, the payroll frequency is monthly 

13th month pay is not mandatory. 

The minimum wage in Mauritania is 30000 Mauritanian ouguiya per month. 

The legal working time cannot exceed 40 hours per week, nor 8 hours per day. Overtime is paid at a premium of 150% of the hourly pay rate. 

There is no specific provision for the data retention policy in Mauritania. 

New hire Mauritania employee, they must sign the employment contract. Then, you need to register them with the local authorities and social security (CNSS). You must obtain copies of two ID photos, their birth certificate, their criminal record, copies of their diploma. 

Mauritanian law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical disabilities in education, employment, or the provision of other state services. 

New employee the following are required: 

• Two ID photos 
• A copy of ID card (new ID card for Mauritanians) 
• Birth certificate 
• Copy of first page of the CNSS book (if already registered) 
• Criminal record 
• CV 
• Copies of diploma 
• Copies of experience certificates 
• Certificate stating the new employee is free from any employment contract with anyone and allowed to engage with the company 
• Wedding certificates 
• Copies of the family members 
• ID cards / birth certificates for minors 
• Expat new starts need a work permit to be issued before starting work.  

Probationary period cannot exceed: 

• 6 months for any worker; 

• 12 months for the worker who has kept their usual residence outside the territory of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania; 

• 12 months for a worker hired as a cadre as defined by collective agreements or regulations 

• 1 Jan - New Year's Day
• 21 Apr - Eid ul-Fitr
• 24 Apr - Eid ul-Fitr Holiday
• 1 May - Labor Day / May Day
• 25 May - Africa Day
• 28 Jun - Eid al-Adha
• 19 Jul - Muharram/Islamic New Year
• 27 Sep - Milad un Nabi (Mawlid)
• 28 Nov - Independence Day

There is no statutory sick leave 

In virtue of the pregnancy, every woman is entitled to maternity leave for the period of 14 consecutive week, of which 8 weeks shall be taken after the birth. 

The duration of 8 weeks after the birth is irreducible no matter when the birth takes place. 

There is no statutory paternity leave. 

Notification of termination shall be made in writing to the other party and shall set out the reason for the termination. The duration of the notice period varies depending on the seniority of the employee. In practice, it means that a senior employee is entitled to a long notice period.

There is no statutory requirement. Severance pay in Mauritania is typically decided by collective or individual agreements.

Foreign nationals who intend to travel to Mauritania have a variety of different visas to choose from based on the purpose of their visit. 

The common visa categories include: 

• Tourist visas - Foreigners who wish to visit Mauritania for tourist purposes must obtain a tourist visa
• Business visas - Foreigners who wish to enter Mauritania for business purposes must obtain a business visa
• Work visas - Foreign nationals intending to work in Mauritania for over 60 days must obtain a Work Permit. 

There are no restrictions on background checks by or on behalf of the employer. If an employer chooses to perform a pre-employment background check, it must be done in compliance with the Mauritanian data privacy laws. The data privacy laws were passed in 2017.