Manual labour is used for loading and unloading. There is extensive use of manual labour also in the construction sector. Most manual labour will have no formal training and take work where they can find it and are paid by the tonnage they move, not hours they work. Manual labourers are not organised in unions, but will organise in teams with a frontman that will rally the necessary number and be the contact person toward the employer. Minimum salary in place in Niger which is fixed at 30 047 XOF per month and unchanged since 2012.  Incidentally, the living wage for an individual in Niger is estimated at minimum 53 200 XOF. The manual labourers bargaining power varies and there is little governmental control. According to a survey by Wage Indicator 34 % reported to receive monthly salaries below the minimum wage[1] – close to 70% in the category where manual labourers fall under.

Manual labourers will hang around markets and can be engaged directly for ad-hoc operations. Manual labourers are normally widely available.  Companies and merchants that have regular need for manual labourers will usually maintain a core team, but not necessarily contracted. When contracts are applied the compensation will usually be linked with a price per weight unit. Manuel labourers expect to be paid in cash on a daily basis and will be quick to lay down work if payments are delayed. WFP engages manual labour through a contracted party. 

The figures below represent the median salary, taking from a survey conducted by WageIndicator in 2012[2] which is the most recent publicly available. The inflation has fluctuate between 2% and minus 2% since, and as such wages will not have changed much[3].   Monthly salaries are estimates as the corresponding group reported working 60, 55 and 50 hour weeks respectively. The wages of manual workers will depend on the quantity manipulated, meaning that peak periods for import and export will be see relatively good wages while calm periods will be relatively poor.