Burkina Faso's new labor code introduces major reforms for worker protection and modern work practices
via Lefaso.net8 min read
Burkina Faso has adopted a new labor code, law n°013-2026/ALP of May 6, 2026, aiming to modernize labor law and promote decent work and social justice. This reform addresses limitations of the previous 2008 code, which struggled with rapid economic and technological changes. Key innovations include regulating temporary work by limiting its duration to one year and ensuring equal pay for temporary and permanent workers in the same role. The new code also criminalizes moral harassment in the workplace and limits the renewal of fixed-term contracts to a maximum of two times, meaning a worker can only have three fixed-term contracts with the same company. It harmonizes the maximum duration of fixed-term contracts to two years for both national and non-national workers, eliminating discrimination. The new law increases the cap on damages for unfair dismissal from 18 to 24 months' salary and officially recognizes teleworking to accommodate new work arrangements. Furthermore, it extends paid leave for breastfeeding mothers from 14 to 15 months and increases exceptional leave for family events from 10 to 15 working days. The threshold for establishing a Health and Safety Committee at work has been lowered from 30 to 25 employees, and the appeal threshold for judgments has been raised from 200,000 FCFA to over 1,000,000 FCFA. The code also improves collective labor dispute resolution by setting a three-month deadline for arbitration awards, which can be appealed to the social chamber
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In Bobo-Dioulasso, the HortiPlus Project has initiated its first circular economy incubation cycle for agricultural value chains. On June 29, 2026, 25 entrepreneurs began a three-day hackathon aimed at developing innovative solutions to convert agricultural by-products and waste into sustainable economic opportunities. This initiative, supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented by a consortium including AGRODEV Services, Advance Consulting, AUXFIN, Agriterra, and Sense, seeks to foster a new generation of entrepreneurs who combine profitability, innovation, and environmental protection. The hackathon focuses on identifying business opportunities from waste generated by mango, cashew, market gardening, rice, and agri-food sectors. Participants will analyze waste streams in Bobo-Dioulasso, design circular businesses, and develop viable economic models. Following this phase, 15 promising teams will enter a 12-week pre-incubation period, with 10 advancing to an incubation phase focused on marketing, sales, and business development. The ultimate goal is to establish five start-ups capable of generating initial revenues. Hedzer Roodenburg Vermaat, a circular economy expert from Advance Consulting, emphasized that the circular economy goes beyond simple recycling by preventing waste generation through innovative approaches. Jean Bosco Dibouloni, Director General of AGRODEV Services, stated that this activity aligns with the HortiPlus Project's objectives, which incl
Burkina Faso's Minister of Economy and Finance, Dr. Aboubakar Nacanabo, met with the World Bank's Regional Director for Prosperity, Yaye Seynabou Sakho, on June 29, 2026, in Ouagadougou. The meeting focused on the cooperation between Burkina Faso and the World Bank, as announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Discussions also covered future collaboration on the country's development programs. During the audience, the World Bank representative commended Burkinabe authorities for their progress in the "Country Policy and Institutional Assessment" CPIA, which evaluates the quality of public policies and institutions. She specifically praised advancements in public finance management and encouraged continued reforms to strengthen governance and institutional performance. The Minister of Economy and Finance reiterated the importance of the strategic partnership between Burkina Faso and the World Bank. He advocated for support to be directed towards structural and high-impact investments that can facilitate the country's economic transformation and sustainably improve living conditions, aligning with national development priorities.
Must ReadA constitutional review under examination in Senegal's National Assembly has led to significant political and parliamentary tensions. According to the Minister of Justice, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye intends to submit the constitutional reform to a popular referendum after parliamentary review, an option allowed by the Senegalese Constitution. Debates were marked by incidents, including the expulsion of Deputy Abdou Mbow from the chamber following a dispute over speaking time. Security forces intervened at the request of the session chair, Ousmane Sonko. Following this, the president of the Takku Wallu Senegal parliamentary group, Me Aïssata Tall Sall, and several opposition deputies left the plenary session, denouncing the conditions of the text's examination and questioning the process's legitimacy. Concurrently, the AGIR party reported the arrest of its president, Thierno Bocoum, and two activists near the National Assembly, calling these arrests arbitrary and demanding their release. These events highlight the strong polarization surrounding the constitutional reform, with both the majority and opposition disagreeing on the text's substance and its review procedures. The announced referendum could shift the debate from Parliament to the broader Senegalese electorate.