Personnel management
Temporary Work
Long misunderstood, temporary work is now increasingly used by employers. Some employers rely on it systematically to replace an absent employee or to evaluate candidates for a few months before offering them a permanent contract.
This document is intended for two audiences: employers (Parts 1 through 3) and young job seekers (Part 4).
1. Definition and Legal Framework
What Is Temporary Work?
Temporary staffing is defined as the use of workers to replace an employee whose employment contract has been legally suspended, in accordance with the provisions of Article L.34 of the Labor Code.
Do not confuse temporary work with worker assignment: these are two entirely different concepts.
Cases of Legal Suspension
- Maternity leave;
- Sick leave;
- Vacation;
- Incarceration;
- etc.
The common thread: the employee has not left the company. Their contract is on hold, and their position may be filled by a temporary worker.
The three mandatory provisions of a temporary employment contract
The contract must specify:
| Required Information | Example |
|---|---|
| The name of the employee on leave | Ms. Fanta KEÏTA |
| Reason for the suspension | Maternity leave |
| Expected duration of the leave | 14 weeks |
The limit that must never be exceeded
The use of temporary staffing may not, either in purpose or in effect, serve to permanently fill a position related to the company’s normal and ongoing operations, regardless of the reason.
Read the wording carefully: it refers to both the purpose (what you intended to do) and the effect (what happens in practice). Even without any intention to circumvent the rule, keeping a temporary worker in a permanent position on a long-term basis constitutes a violation.
2. Where Temporary Work Is Practiced Today in Mali
The sectors with the highest demand
Banks and telecommunications companies are increasingly relying on temporary workers.
The positions involved
| Heavily affected | Less affected |
|---|---|
| Administrative jobs | Financial positions |
| Sales | Management positions |
| Data entry clerks | |
| Secretaries, switchboard operators | |
| Security Guards | |
| Call center sales representatives |
Job openings are primarily for candidates with a two-year college degree or higher.
A Shift in Perception
The image and prejudices that Malians had about temporary work and staffing services are beginning to fade. What was once seen as a last resort is now recognized as a legitimate pathway to employment in its own right.
3. Why Temporary Work Is Becoming Essential for Companies
Three structural reasons explain this.
Reason 1: A Conscious Choice. Companies have chosen to no longer hire directly for certain roles or positions.
Reason 2: Fluctuating business activity. The business activities of some companies are not consistent throughout the 12 months of the year. They are therefore forced to adopt a flexible approach: adjusting their workforce to the actual pace of demand, rather than maintaining a headcount throughout the year that is sized for peak periods.
Reason 3: The lack of an HR department. Virtually all companies in Mali do not have a human resources manager to handle recruitment. Using temporary staffing agencies allows them both to evaluate candidates and to fill in for absent employees, without having to rely on expertise they do not have in-house.
4. Temporary Work: A Real Stepping Stone to Employment
This section is intended for young people just starting out.
The Initial Challenge
Many potential employers are hesitant to hire young entry-level workers, even beyond the issue of their employability. The criticisms are often the same:
- “They want everything, and they want it right away, even though they can’t yet contribute to the company”;
- “They don’t know how to sell themselves”;
- “They lack an entrepreneurial spirit.”
Whether these prejudices are justified or not, they exist, and they create barriers.
The question to ask yourself
How do you land a job in an environment where these prejudices precede you?
The answer: through proof, not through words. And temporary work is precisely a way to prove yourself.
Why choose temp work over an internship
| Advantage | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Gaining a variety of experiences | You gain experience through multiple assignments instead of a single internship |
| Exposure to Different Workplaces | You’ll discover different organizations and ways of working |
| Proving yourself in real-world situations | You’re judged on your work, not your resume |
| Compensation | You earn a living while building your career |
| Save time and money | Far more effective than unsolicited applications |
The prospect of a permanent position
Generally, these temporary workers end up being hired, provided they perform well.
That’s the whole idea: a company that was hesitant to hire a stranger no longer hesitates to hire someone whose work it has already evaluated over several months.
A concrete example: finance and accounting roles
Young professionals with backgrounds in finance, accounting, and management have an advantage everyone is aware of: the high demand for accountants and finance professionals during the fiscal reporting periods in February, March, and April.
Positioning yourself during these periods means joining the company at the very moment it needs extra help the most—and thus when it’s most attentive to those who prove themselves effective.
In summary
Yes, temporary work is often precarious. But it’s a real stepping stone:
- it allows you to gain experience and build on it;
- it enhances your resume and skills;
- it helps you earn a living in the meantime.
Don’t wait any longer!
5. Our Approach
Our process follows a complete cycle, from needs analysis to the end of the assignment.
Step 1: Needs Analysis
- Contacting companies to analyze their needs: - Establishing a schedule for employees’ leave;
- compiling a list of other absences related to a legal suspension of employment contracts.
This step is key: it allows us to anticipate absences rather than simply dealing with them as they arise.
Step 2: Find and Place
- Search for candidates who match the suspended positions;
- Establishing contact;
- Contracts.
Step 3: Provide support throughout the entire process
- Monitoring the assignment;
- Administrative management;
- End-of-assignment formalities.
The Essentials in 5 Points
- Temporary staffing replaces an employee whose contract is legally suspended (Art. L.34 of the Labor Code).
- The contract must specify the name of the person being replaced, the reason for the suspension, and its expected duration.
- It can never permanently fill a regular, permanent position, either by its purpose or by its effect.
- For the company, it addresses three realities: a lack of an HR department, business activity that is not consistent over 12 months, and a need for flexibility.
- For a young professional just starting out, it serves as a springboard: it offers valuable experience, a more substantial resume, immediate income, and—if they perform well—the potential for a permanent position.