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Mauritania EOR & PEO

Start hiring in Mauritania

Simple, compliant hiring with Horizons EOR & PEO

Hire in Mauritania

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is known for its agriculture, abundant mineral resources, and renewable energy. With a relatively small population of 4.9 million as of 2024, this Arab country has managed to reduce its inflation from 9.5% in 2022 to 5% only a year later. Inflation is predicted to further decrease to 2.5% in 2024. Despite slower GDP growth rates of 3.4% in 2023, its real GDP is expected to reach 5.9% in 2024. As part of the country’s initiatives to improve its economic conditions, the Northwest African nation launched the Agency for the Promotion of Investment in Mauritania (APIM) in 2021. With unemployment rates expected to reach 11% in 2024, many Mauritanians, including its youth population, are in search of jobs. A combination of low monthly wages of $759 with a high demand for employment could make Mauritania workers a valuable choice for your company. 

Facts & Stats

EOR Platform

Hire in Mauritania, and pay employees through our platform or app.

EOR Cost

Our Mauritania EOR solution is the most affordable on the market.

Time-to-hire

Fast Mauritania onboarding, hire in as little as 24 hours.

Contracts

We draft compliant Mauritania labor contracts.

Local benefits

We manage all Mauritania mandatory benefits.

180+ Countries

It doesn’t stop with Mauritania — we hire employees globally.

hire employees in Mauritania

What Is a Mauritania EOR?

An employer of record, or EOR, can help you employ Mauritanians without the cost and hassle of setting up a legal entity in the country. When you hire an EOR, they will handle your company’s compliance as they become the legal employer of workers in Mauritania. The EOR offers HR support, including the management of employee payroll. This allows businesses to focus on the daily management of employees, from monitoring their performance to providing relevant training. 

In some instances, the employer of record is confused with a professional employer organization or PEO. It’s important to understand the differences between an EOR and a PEO, as this will allow you to choose the right type of agency to represent and manage your business. An EOR in Mauritania can legally act as an employer of your staff, whereas a PEO can only assume the role of a partner or co-employer. The PEO can assist in recruiting and hiring employees for your company, but they do not have a legal entity and are restricted in terms of their ability to oversee legalities such as employment contracts and benefits. 

Save Money And Time with A Mauritania EOR

What Are the Benefits of a Mauritania EOR?

A Mauritania EOR makes the process of hiring workers in the Northwest African country easier and more affordable. As a foreign company looking to employ staff in this region, you have the benefit of hiring skilled Mauritanian workers with confidence that an EOR will keep you updated on the local tax and labor laws. This vital process can prevent your business from being issued a fine for non-compliance. In addition to compliance, an EOR can provide access to a diverse and skilled pool of Mauritanians looking for employment. A Mauritanian EOR manages employee benefits and expenses and applies the best practices when drafting employment contracts. Simply put, an EOR makes the process of managing a workforce in Mauritania simpler while protecting the best interests of your business. 

Horizons is Best IN Class

Why Choose Horizons?

Horizons stands out as a Mauritania EOR through:

  1. A strong regional presence in Africa, meaning senior management are on the ground to deal with any issues.
  2. Client-focused infrastructure. Horizons won’t oversell you on products and services you don’t need. Horizons offers the easiest platform to compliantly hire and pay people worldwide.
  3. Cost-effective solutions. At $299 per employee, per month, no EOR in Mauritania is more affordable. The cost is 100% transparent (onboarding, offboarding, deposit, no extra charges).
  4. A customer-first culture. Horizons is an efficient bootstrapped company. It is not an externally-funded company burning investor cash to aggressively acquire new clients. Horizons is the only EOR that grows with its customer, reflecting the level of care and personal attention provided to each customer. Horizons will carefully advise on the best setup in each country: the type of contract needed, how to structure your benefits, and how to offboard a person while minimizing the risk of conflicts and extra cost
  5. A long-term partnership. Horizons is the only EOR platform with a recruitment arm — a direct response to client demand. If any employee is leaving, or if our clients want to explore a new country, Horizons can recruit new candidates directly for the client.  Horizons is:
    • The only EOR doing this in-house — no subcontracting
    • The only EOR doing this without a retainer — clients are only charged upon success
    • The only EOR charging just a 2% fee per month
Step-by-step Mauritania EOR

How Does a Mauritania EOR Work?

When you hire an EOR, they can legally represent your company in the Northwest African country and act as a mediator between you (the client company) and the employees. While an EOR service cannot create the terms of the employment contract, they can negotiate them on your behalf. The following services are provided by an EOR in Mauritania:

  1. Hire your employees. Some of the HR services that are provided by an EOR include hiring and onboarding staff. An employer of record helps international businesses tap into labor markets efficiently. This means that it takes less time and is more affordable to hire and place employees in a country where you’re unfamiliar with the laws. A Mauritanian EOR helps foreign businesses attract the best talent. As Arabic is the national language of Mauritania, EOR professionals will facilitate communication with potential employees, making the hiring process more transparent, flexible, and less complicated.
  2. Manage employment contracts and onboarding. The onboarding process is the first part of an employee’s journey and requires careful consideration of labor practices to create a pleasant experience for new workers. An EOR ensures that employees’ rights are protected by guiding the client company in creating safe working conditions, and this includes helping employees transition into their new roles. When it comes to the employment contract in Mauritania, the agreement must stipulate compensation in the local currency, the Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU). Additional onboarding processes include the stipulation of working hours and clear descriptions of job duties. As employment contracts in Mauritania can be verbal or written, an EOR will assist with negotiations in Arabic.
  3. Process payroll and handle employment taxes. The EOR will process payroll, which includes the collection and payment of taxes such as social security and withholding tax (WHT). An EOR will submit taxes before the 15th of every month to prevent your business from paying a fine of 2000 MRU.
  4. Administer benefits. The EOR in Mauritania complies with Law No. 2004-015 according to the labor code to administer benefits to employees on behalf of foreign businesses. They will inform employers of mandatory benefits such as paid leave, sick leave, and social contributions that employees must receive. The provision of health insurance and flexible working hours are optional extras that can be negotiated with workers through the EOR.
  5. Take care of exit procedures. Whether you are dissatisfied with the performance of an employee or wish to reduce the size of your workforce, in Mauritania, specific exit procedures must be followed. An EOR knows Mauritanian termination laws and provides the relevant notice period, written notices, and compensation depending on the reason for terminating an employee’s contract. These steps will protect foreign businesses from facing legal problems if an exit procedure is followed incorrectly.
stay compliant with Mauritania labor laws

Labor Laws

The labor laws in Mauritania must be closely followed to protect the rights of employees and employers. When you hire an EOR, professionals work with you to apply local regulations, from employment contracts and salaries to public holidays and staff compensation.

Employment contract types

In Mauritania, employees can enter into a fixed-term contract or an indefinite contract. Fixed-term contracts can be renewed twice within two years and are suited to temporary employees. Indefinite contracts are more flexible and are offered to permanent employees because they don’t have an end date. It is important to specify the contract type for employees in Mauritania, or it will be regarded as an indefinite contract. 

Project-based

Probationary period

No probationary period.

Termination

At completion of the project.

Severance

Not applicable

Fixed-term

Probationary period

Typically 3 months.

Termination notice period

30 days (minimum and maximum allowed by labor law)

Severance

Entitled to compensation for the remaining term of the contract.

Indefinite

Probationary period

Typically 3 months.

Termination notice period

30 days (minimum and maximum allowed by labor law)

Severance

10 to 15 days of salary per year of service

Working hours in Mauritania

The legal working hours in Mauritania cannot exceed 40 hours per week, which is 8 hours a day. In addition to standard working hours, every new employee is entitled to a 6-month probationary period to learn and establish themselves in their new roles. 

Overtime must be compensated in the following way:

For a regular workday:

150% of the standard hourly rate

For a rest day:

200% of the standard hourly rate

For a statutory holiday:

200% of the standard hourly rate

Mauritania has a rich culture largely based on upholding tradition and celebrates religious holidays such as Eid ul-Fitur on April 10th and Eid al-Adha on June 17th. The country has 9 public holidays, including Labor Day May 1st, Islamic New Year July 8th, Independence Day November 28th, and Milad un Nabi (Mawlid), which occurs on the 15th or 16th of September in 2024.

 

DateHoliday name
1 Jan, 2024New Year’s Day
10 Apr, 2024Eid ul-Fitr
1 May, 2024Labor Day
25 May, 2024Africa Day
17 Jun, 2024Eid al-Adha
8 Jul, 2024Muharram/Islamic New Year (Tentative Date)
16 Sep, 2024Milad un Nabi (Mawlid) (Tentative Date)
28 Nov, 2024Independence Day

 

Paid time off

All employees are permitted paid leave, including public holidays, annual leave, and maternity leave. Based on employee benefits, women can take 14 weeks of paid maternity leave. 

Under 1 year of employment

18 days of paid leave annually

1-10 years of employment

18 days of paid leave annually

10-20 years of employment

18 days of paid leave annually

20+ years of employment

18 days of paid leave annually

Sick leave in Mauritania

Every employee is entitled to 5 days of sick leave that must be paid in full. This equates to approximately 1.4% of their yearly salary.

Less than 6 months of sick leave:

(percentage of regular wages owed to the employee)

Under 1 year of employment

5 days of paid leave annually

1-10 years of employment

5 days of paid leave annually

10-20 years of employment

5 days of paid leave annually

20+ years of employment

5 days of paid leave annually

Over 6 months of sick leave

Under 1 year of employment

Varied (specified in the contract or policies)

1-3 years of employment

Varied (specified in the contract or policies)

3+ years of employment

Varied (specified in the contract or policies)

In order for employees to receive the full wages due to them, workers must present a valid medical certificate from a certified doctor to their employer.

Maternity leave in Mauritania

Employees are generally entitled to 14 weeks (98 days) of maternity leave and are entitled to receive their full salary. Maternity leave can typically start before or after childbirth, as determined by medical needs or personal preference. 

Annual leave in Mauritania

In Mauritania, employees must receive 18 days of fully paid annual leave, which is 1.5 days of leave per month of service.

Termination & severance in Mauritania

When a foreign business faces the termination of an employee, an EOR can help by guiding one through the process according to the country’s labor laws. 

Employees who enter into indefinite contracts can be terminated by the employee or employer at any given time. If an employee is found guilty of gross misconduct, their employment contract can be terminated immediately without notice or severance pay.

If you have a valid reason for dismissing an employee in Mauritania as per the country’s labor laws, they must receive notice in writing based on their length of service and their position. While the notice period for termination in Mauritania is not specified, senior employees must receive a longer notice than their subordinates.

Employers in Mauritania are not legally required to pay severance; however, the employer and employee can negotiate severance with the assistance of a Mauritania EOR.

Mauritania's compulsory social security contributions

Social security contributions in Mauritania are governed by the National Social Security Fund (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale, CNSS) and are mandatory for all employees covered under the social security system.

Social security contributions typically cover various benefits, including pensions, healthcare, maternity benefits, disability benefits, and survivor benefits.

Mauritania social security for foreigners

Social security contributions in Mauritania generally apply to both Mauritanian nationals and foreign workers who are employed in the country. Foreign workers, like Mauritanian nationals, are typically required to contribute to the social security system if they are employed under a formal employment contract and fall within the scope of the country’s labor laws.

Individual income tax

Income tax is levied on the income earned by residents and non-residents who derive income from sources within the country. It is based on a progressive tax system, where higher income levels are taxed at higher rates. Non-residents may also be subject to Mauritania’s income tax on income derived from Mauritanian sources, with specific rules and rates applicable.

Health insurance

Mauritania provides basic healthcare services through its public sector and there’s option for formal health insurance coverage however it’s limited and primarily provided through employer-based schemes or out-of-pocket payments.

hassle-free Mauritanian compensation & benefits

Compensation & Benefits

Mauritania compensation laws

Compensation laws in the Northwest African country are meant to support employees in terms of their monthly living expenses. A mandatory benefit in the form of social security makes financial provision for retirement and disability when an individual is no longer able to work. Another important compensation law concerns overtime work. In Mauritania, employees must be paid 150% of their hourly rates if they perform outside of a 40-hour work week.  Other types of compensation, such as health and life insurance, are not mandatory in Mauritania, which means that employers have the option of including these as benefits in the employment contract. 

13 month salary in Mauritania

Employers in Mauritania are not legally obligated to pay employees a 13th-month salary, but they are encouraged to offer staff bonuses to attract, retain, and create a confident and secure workforce. 

Social security for Mauritanian nationals

Most businesses offer their staff social security as a means of financial protection against unforeseen accidents that could lead to disability and illness. In Mauritania, employers pay a tax rate of 15% of the employee’s gross salary to the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS) as an employee social security contribution. 

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Frequently asked questions

Foreign businesses looking to hire workers in Mauritania must adhere to all of the country’s labor laws, from meeting minimum wage requirements to adhering to standard working hours and providing paid leave. An EOR helps foreign businesses uphold the rights of employees by ensuring that they receive mandatory benefits and that all requirements, from salaries to safe working conditions, are delivered. As an EOR is a legal entity in the country, it will act as the legal employer and is, therefore, fully capable of communicating statutory requirements to the client company. As a foreign business, you pay the EOR a fee for their services in addition to financial obligations such as paying staff salaries and benefits.

An EOR manages administrative tasks, including drafting employment contracts based on the terms agreed upon between the client company (employer) and the employee. EORs facilitate payroll according to Mauritanian tax laws and ensure documentation is completed correctly. Training measures and tools provided by the employer are implemented under the EOR to give employees the best chance of succeeding. If an employee is dismissed, an EOR handles the offboarding process with the utmost confidentiality while ensuring that labor laws are followed every step of the way. This includes providing the employee with written notice and using their knowledge of Mauritanian employment law to protect the employer and workers. 

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