Professions in Comoros

The main occupational areas in the Union des Comores include farming, livestock, artisanal fishing, aquaculture, forestry, commerce, construction, crafts, transport, hospitality, tourism, public administration, teaching, health, telecommunications and digital services. Ngazidja, Anjouan and Mohéli can differ in available institutions and practical access. French is the administrative language, while Shikomori is widely used locally. Common occupational terms include agriculteur or agricultrice, vendeur, maçon, peintre en bâtiment, aide familial, agent de santé, agent télécom and matelot. Agriculture has particularly broad practical relevance. The research basis records 73,966 agricultural holdings, agriculture in 71% of households and 430,369 people living in agricultural households. Fishing often supplements farming. Work may take place in a family holding, a cooperative, an informal activity or a formally organized company. Micro-trade, services, crafts and construction also commonly operate outside standardized employment or qualification systems. Formal private-sector work generally follows an employment contract under the Comoros Labour Code, known locally as the Code du Travail. Apprenticeship, or apprentissage, uses a written contract for methodical and complete occupational training provided by an industrial, commercial or agricultural company, an artisan or a training centre. The employer must declare the worker within 48 hours. A worker dossier and a carte de travail may also be required. The island service de main-d'œuvre provides its employment service free of charge. A general cross-sector duration, fee schedule or certification process for apprenticeship is not established by the available official evidence, so the relevant sector and institution must be checked. Public-service professions follow a separate process. Entry generally requires Comorian citizenship, civil rights and good moral standing, physical and mental fitness, an age between 18 and 40, and a budgeted vacancy. The Haute Autorité de la Fonction Publique organizes a concours, meaning a competitive recruitment examination. Statuts particuliers regulate matters such as recruitment, employment, training, confirmation in service, advancement, reclassification, discipline and retirement. These conditions apply to public-service recruitment and should not be transferred automatically to private occupations. Health professions have specific legal controls. Doctors, dental surgeons, pharmacists, medical biologists and auxiliary medical staff require a state diploma or a recognized equivalent. Access also depends on Comorian nationality or an applicable reciprocity arrangement and registration with the relevant professional order, Tableau or list of eligible practitioners. A foreign professional applies through the Ministère de la Santé. Illegal practice is punishable. Traditional medicine is legally recognized, although its detailed exercise rules require the relevant implementing decree. Lawyers and notaries are governed by separate organizational laws, registration requirements, incompatibilities and professional duties. Formal working conditions generally include a maximum of 40 hours per week and 8 hours per day, subject to sector-specific rules. The research basis records an agricultural framework of about 2,340 hours per year, or approximately 45 hours per week. Employers must address occupational safety and health, inform workers about risks, provide personal protective equipment, arrange first aid and provide access to medical services. Workers also have safety duties. The Inspection du Travail et des lois sociales on each island can require corrective action, order immediate measures and, where necessary, order a shutdown. Workers may join unions and participate in collective representation. Labour disputes can be submitted for conciliation through the Inspection du Travail and then brought before the Tribunal du Travail. Foreign workers remain subject to the Labour Code as well as admission and residence rules. Maritime workers have an additional framework because Comoros ratified the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC 2006) on 18 February 2024, and it entered into force for Comoros on 18 February 2025. Career development usually follows the structure of the occupation. Informal practice can lead to experience and self-employment. Apprenticeship can lead to work in an enterprise or further skill development through a training centre. Public servants progress or change classification under statutory rules. Regulated health and legal professions require recognized qualifications and professional registration. The service de main-d'œuvre, island Labour Inspection, Haute Autorité de la Fonction Publique, Ministère de la Santé and professional orders are therefore relevant to different occupational decisions rather than to all professions equally.