The authors of this book were driven by a daunting challenge: analysing wage issues not only in countries south of the Sahara, but also in the North Africa and Middle East (MENA) region. This required accounting for highly diverse contexts, including demographic dynamics, range of economic sectors, work and life conditions, and factors influencing salaried work and self-employment beyond economic criteria. First, the specificities and common features of salaried work in the countries concerned will be highlighted. This leads us, in a second place, to consider the world of labour in its entirety, with formal and informal practices being closely intertwined. Finally, the political issue of labour is questioned through demographic dynamics and the risk of political unrest.