Part-time

The Malian Labour Code does not expressly mention part-time work. However, employers do make use of it in specific circumstances, namely for tasks that do not require a sufficient number of hours to reach 40 hours per week.

Furthermore, they resort to it – as is common practice in Mali – when the company is experiencing financial difficulties. In such cases, the use of part-time work amounts to a reduction in working hours, leading to a reduction in pay, in order to avoid short-time working.

As for temporary work, its use stems from the intermittent nature of the company’s activities. Employees working on temporary contracts are, in most cases, day labourers whose period of employment does not exceed three months.

Respecting equal treatment

Whether they are part-time or temporary workers, employees are entitled to the same rights as full-time employees.

They are entitled to the same number of days’ leave as full-time employees. They may vote and stand for election when trade union bodies are established.

A part-time worker’s pay must be proportional to their working hours compared with what a full-time worker would receive for the same work.

Social security contributions are paid to the relevant body under the same conditions as for full-time work.

Key terminology

Casual worker 

This term is used to refer to an employee on a temporary contract. It is due to the intermittent nature of the work that the employee does not perform continuous and regular duties.

Difference between a casual worker and a temporary worker

A casual worker carries out activities arising from uncertain and non-recurring circumstances. The need giving rise to the employment cannot be established with certainty in advance.

Whereas a temporary worker carries out activities for which the need can be established with certainty in advance, but for a fixed term.

For example, a cleaner who is called upon only when project teams are occupying the premises, without it being possible to determine with certainty in advance the date and duration of the teams’ stay during the year, would be employed under a casual contract.

On the other hand, if the date and duration of the teams’ stay each year could be determined with certainty in advance, the cleaner’s contract would be a temporary contract.

Seasonal

Certain sectors of activity operate on a cyclical basis. In fact, the bulk of the work is carried out during a specific period known as the ‘season’, during which the employee works full-time.

As this period of peak activity does not extend throughout the whole year, the employee is referred to as a seasonal worker because, every year at the same time, they are required to report for work.